Statement by the YABLOKO party, 01.11.2016

The YABLOKO party is outraged by the information about tortures of activist Ildar Dadin in Penal Colony No 7 in the city Segezha in the Republic of Karelia.

We have repeatedly drawn the attention to the following: the principles of work of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia (FSIN) do not meet the requirements of the present Russian legislation and international law. The existence of the correctional system where prisoners are subjected to daily torture and humiliation represents the revival of the most heinous practices of the Stalinist GULAG. A modern state can not have structures built on physical violence and moral humiliation of person.

We demand to ensure the protection of life and health of Ildar Dadin.

Those responsible for the abuse of prisoners must be prosecuted. The duties of the heads of Penal Colony No 7 must be immediately suspended for the period of investigation.

Our party, its regional branch in Karelia, deputies of the YABLOKO faction in the Legislative Assembly of the Republic will take all possible measures so that the crimes of the stuff of Penal Colony No 7 are not left unpunished.

Inaction and silence the heads of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia

will serve as proof of their complicity in the crimes committed in the colonies.

Emilia Slabunova,

Chair of the YABLOKO party

Ildar Dadin is the first Russian civil activist convicted under Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code “Repeated violation of the established order of organising or holding meetings and rallies” (212.1 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced to a real imprisonment term of three years. He was convicted for one-person picketing which do not require any permissions from the authorities. International human rights organisation Amnesty International has recognised Ildar Dadin prisoner of conscience.

In September 2016, Dadin was transferred to Penal Colony No 7 in the town of Segezha in the Republic of Karelia, North-West Russia. Today, his letter to his wife Anastasia Zotova written from his own words by his lawyer Alexei Liptzer was published by Meduza Internet media. In this letter Dadin writes about tortures and abuse.

The YABLOKO party demands the release of Ildar Dadin. Almost immediately after his arrest, Moscow Youth YABLOKO made a statement “Freedom to Ildar Dadin!”, where YABLOKO activists emphasised that they considered Dadin innocent as he did not violate any law. Chairman of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO Sergei Mitrokhin demanded the release of Dadin. Members of Moscow Regional Council of the party took part in the flashmob “Freedom to Ildar Dadin”. Also, YABLOKO activists took part in the picket for the abolition of Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code. The picket was attended by about 50 people, including Anastasia Zotova, then bride of Ildar Dadin.