Press release, 23.10.2013

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin sent a letter to Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, demanding to take under control the investigation into the attacks on YABLOKO activists in Kemerovo: Valentina Mezhnina and Yevgeny Artemyev.

On the night of October 12/13, unidentified persons fired at Mezhnina’s apartment window. Police counted about 20 bullet holes there. Mezhnina immediately filed a complaint to the police. But a week later she had to publicly tell what had happened due to police action.

Bullet marks on the windows of the Valentiba Mazhnina’s apartment.

Now Valentina Mezhnina fears that the attackers may repeat their attack, therefore she can not live in her apartment now. Furthermore, she had already received threats before the incident.

Valentina Mezhnina has been taking an active part in the political life of the region, in particular, actively participated in the election of September 8, 2013. YABLOKO believes that the attack on her apartment was connected with her active social stance and political activities.

Sergei Mitrokhin’s letter to the head of the Investigative Committee also raises another recent incident: beating of YABLOKO’s Yevgeny Artemyev during picketing against violation of electoral rights. Artemyev was beaten by a man in civilian clothes in front of a police officer. According to Rosbalt information agency, the person who beat Artemyev was one of the staff of the Main Department for Combating Extremism (Centre E). Artemyev had a concussion and multiple bruises, however, the Investigative Department of the Kemerovo region still have been conducting a preliminary inquiry and no criminal case has been filed.

“There are reasons to believe that YABLOKO activists have been systematically persecuted for political reasons in the Kemerovo region,” runs Sergei Mitrokhin’s letter. Mitrokhin demands from the Investigative Committee to take investigation of these crimes under control.