Repressions are intensifying

Political repression in Russia is intensifying. The authorities have long failed to observe the basic law of the country, the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and have introduced openly repressive laws, such as the law on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces, the law on the use of fakes, and the law on unsanctioned rallies. Because of this, almost any opposition political activity in Russia becomes criminally punishable. In connection with this, cases of arrests of civil activists have recently become more frequent. For example:

• The Basmanny Court in Moscow arrested Ilya Yashin, a liberal oppositionary politician and activist. He was sentenced to two months in custody until September 12, 2022 on charges of discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Ilya Yashin commented on his arrest and explained why he did not leave Russia: "So, the court sent me to prison for anti-war speech. Let's be honest: I knew full well that I would be arrested on February 24th. Everybody knew it. Yesterday in a "confidential conversation" the operatives asked me several times: "Explain why you haven't left. You were given four months of freedom. It would have been easier for everyone if you had left..." Okay, I'll explain. I don't want it to be easier for them. I don't want to run and hide from people I despise. I don't want to humiliate myself in front of war criminals and lower my eyes in front of them. The petition to detain me says: "Yashin has harmed the interests of Russia with his speeches..." Nonsense. I defended Russia with my speeches. And its interests are harmed by Putin, who has dragged my homeland into war, created a thieving dictatorship here and intimidates everyone who disagrees. To get out of this darkness, we will have to pay the price. Nemtsov paid with his life, hundreds of people right now are paying with their personal freedom. When the war broke out, I promised that I wouldn't run anywhere and that I would speak the truth as loudly as I could. And when they arrest me, I will take the blow with dignity. I keep my word. Don't worry about me, friends. And I beg you: don't let yourself be intimidated. I am not afraid - and you are not afraid. No to war".

• On July 8, the Meshchansky Court of Moscow sentenced municipal deputy Alexei Gorinov to 7 years in prison.

Gorinov was found guilty of fakes about the army for suggesting in March that a meeting of the Krasnoselsky district council of deputies begin with a minute of silence, and for calling a "special military operation" a war.

The case against Alexei Gorinov was initiated in April 2022 for statements made on March 15 during the meeting of deputies of the Krasnoselsky municipal district of the capital. After the YouTube recording of the event, the head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy Alexander Khinstein (United Russia) and Oleg Leonov (New People faction), the deputy chairman of the council of deputies Elena Kotenochkina (she left Russia before the charges were brought) and the deputy Alexei Gorinov complained to the prosecutor's office. Both insisted that Yelena Kotenochkina and Alexei Gorinov made inappropriate comments when discussing plans for Moscow residents' leisure time during the May holidays.

Alexei Gorinov protested against the children's drawing contest, pointing out that the entertainment was unacceptable "savagery" against the backdrop of military actions in a neighboring state.

Witnesses for the defense, including Alexei Gorinov's colleague on the board of deputies lawyer Mikhail Biryukov, pointed to the "inadmissibility of responsibility for opinion" - that is, it is impossible to judge a Russian citizen for a personal position, even if expressed during a working meeting.

The witnesses for the prosecution, including one who was classified (his statement was read out by the prosecutor the day before), insisted that they were "insulted" by the statements of the deputies and were "reverent" about May 9. During the session Alexei Gorinov did not deny his own respectful attitude toward Victory Day, pointing out to the court that his father and uncle returned from the war "disabled," while he himself decided for himself that "war is the last vile and dirty thing on Earth".

• On June 24, 2022 at about 12 o'clock, criminal investigators were waiting for Nikolai Kavkazsky, opposition politician, human rights activist, member of the "Yabloko" party and the "Left Social Democrats" organization, candidate for municipal deputy of the Basmanniy district. Kavkazsky was taken to the local police station, and soon thereafter to the district court. "Accused of displaying extremist symbols, namely Smart Voting. For last year's post: I was put on my list by the fake Smart Voting. I pointed out that it was fake... I believe that Smart Voting is not extremism and should be allowed. However, I myself have a negative view of Smart Voting. I believe that one should vote for the opposition, not according to a list" - commented Kavkazsky on the accusation against him.

At 11 p.m. Nikolai left court, and at night he was taken to Special Receiving Center № 1 on Simferopol Boulevard (where, incidentally, he was serving his previous sentence - a six-day arrest for reposting a rally on February 24).

Nikolai was sentenced to 10 days in jail. He is currently at large, although he was arrested today, 13 July, but was released again without a protocol within a day.

• On June 8, Mikhail Lobanov, associate professor at Moscow State University, trade union activist and left-wing politician, was detained in Moscow. The police came to his house and threatened to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations and break down the door, because Lobanov allegedly flooded the neighbors from below with water. The door was not opened, but Mikhail was not at home at that moment. When he returned, he was not even allowed to get his passport and was immediately taken to the police department of Ramenka. He believes that his detention is connected with an article on "discrediting the army" (20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

We are sure that such excesses are another attempt by the authorities to shut mouths of all opposition, and simply people with an active civil position. We are also convinced that this is a deeply flawed practice - instead of solving problems, it is an attempt to pressure those who voice these problems, in an attempt to create the appearance of uniting society around the government.

• On May 10, the website of the "Vesna" movement was blocked

This was reported by representatives of the organization in Telegram. They also clarified that the site is not listed in the register of prohibited materials, but it can only be opened via VPN.

Earlier, the organization reported on the detention of six members of the movement. The detainees were searched in the criminal case of establishing a non-profit organization encroaching on the identity and rights of citizens (Article 239 of the Criminal Code). "Vesna" links the searches and detentions to its anti-war campaign.

Two other activists were detained in connection with "telephone terrorism," according to Vesna.

The movement unites youth activists in St. Petersburg whose aim is to build a free and democratic Russia in which human rights are respected. They participate in rallies and pickets, hold actions, and organize public events, trying to be law-abiding, honest citizens and spreading humanism and democratic values.

• On April 28 Savelovsky district court of Moscow on petition of the senior investigator of the department for investigation of especially important cases in North Administrative district of the main investigative directorate of Investigative Committee for Moscow selected a preventive measure for Kirill Ukraintsev in the form of detention for a period of 1 month and 30 days, that is, until June 25.

According to the investigators, Ukraintsev violated the "Dadin's" article that provides liability for repeated violation of the established procedure for organizing a public event (Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code) by placing publications on the Internet with appeals to employees of courier services and cabs to go to the protests against violations of their labor rights.

That is why if no one goes out on strike and other protests, it is not necessarily a sign that everything is fine. It could be a sign that people are simply afraid for their lives and freedom.

• One of the most heartbreaking stories. On April 13, a court in St. Petersburg sent artist and musician Alexandra Skolichenko (also known simply as Sasha Skolichenko) to a detention center. She faces up to 10 years in prison for the fact that on March 31 she replaced the price tags in a Perekrestok store with flyers with information about the actions of the Russian military in Mariupol.

Sasha was accused of spreading fakes about the Russian armed forces. This is a new article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which came into force on March 4. It provides for punishment of up to 10 years in a colony.

Sasha admitted distributing the leaflets, but pleaded not guilty and denied that the information was false.

Sasha is a bright and creative person, she writes songs, creates comics and cartoons, organizes concerts and jams. She created the famous "Depression Book," which has helped many people and contributed to the destigmatization of mental disorders. The book was enormously popular, was reprinted several times, translated into different languages. It was used by psychologists to work with clients. Thousands and thousands of people thanks to Sasha learned about what happens to them and how to live with depression.

Imprisonment could kill Sasha. She has celiac disease - a genetic intolerance to gluten, which is the protein of the most common wheat and rye. Sasha is also diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, so any deviations from a stable daily routine, lack of sleep, and severe stress can cause a severe exacerbation of the disease. Sasha needs regular medication, which is almost impossible behind bars. Staying in the detention center is extremely dangerous for her. The prison regime and routines are a mortal threat to Sasha, a young girl weighing 46 kilograms.

Sasha's lawyer Dmitry Gerasimov presented the court with certificates of these diseases, but the court did not take them into account. The court also disregarded personal guarantees: Boris Vishnevsky and Mikhail Amosov, deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, politician Lev Shlosberg and municipal deputy Sergei Troshin stood up for her.

So, to summarize, we would like to say that the authoritarian government cannot issue laws that infringe on the rights and freedoms of our citizens with impunity. After all, the Russian Federation has a basic law - the Constitution, Article 55.3 of which states that "The rights and freedoms of man and citizen may be limited by federal law only to the extent necessary for the protection of the foundations of the constitutional system, morality, health, rights and lawful interests of other people, national defense and state security". Neither unsanctioned rallies, nor "LGBT propaganda", nor the dissemination of information about the Russian Armed Forces not confirmed by the Ministry of Defense directly threatens the above. Therefore, many of the repressive laws issued by the puppet parliament are unconstitutional and anti-democratic.

We are convinced that the legislature can and should be accountable to the citizens for the bills it issues. Therefore, the violation of our inalienable rights and freedoms must not go unpunished. Any kind of authoritarianism that suppresses civic engagement and opposition activity is unacceptable in Russia, since these are essential components of any healthy political system. If we want Russia to be a truly European country, the state must guarantee its citizens the right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press and assembly, and freedom of political association.