The YABLOKO party considers prosecution of Vassily Popov,
[leader of the Karelian branch of YABLOKO], be politically
motivated. This is an obvious consequence of YABLOKOs victory
in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the region
and a high regional vote for the party in the elections to
the State Duma, this provocation means an attempt to discredit
someone who was able to get such high support from the population.
On December 6 Vassily Popov, member of YABLOKOs Political
Committee and leader of the Karelia regional branch of the
party, became a victim of a provocation. During a staged road
accident a small dose of drugs was stuffed into his car. People
(non-residents of the area) who provoked the accident and
witnessed that the drugs allegedly fell from Popovs pocket
were not checked by the police.
Medical examination showed that Popov had not used drugs,
however, the case was transferred to the court of the first
instance.
This was the recent case in the chain of intimidation attempts
against the Karelian opposition leader who had already received
a suspended sentence for criticizing former head of the Republic
of Karelia Sergei Katanandov.
The authorities have been trying to intimidate YABLOKO activists
by means of raising of criminal case based on faked evidence.
Maxim Petlin, leader
of the Sverdlovsk branch of YABLOKO who
fought against unlawful construction works in the city park,
has been in jail. The case against him also based on false
evidence.
Also it has been reported recently that a
criminal case might be raised against leaders of the Krasnodar
branch of YABLOKO Suren Ghazaryan and Eugeny Vitishko
in accordance with Article 169 of the Criminal Code (obstacles
to business and other types of activities). The activists
are accused of damaging private property - members of YABLOKO
dismantled several sections of the fence around cottages by
Governor Alexander Tkachyov unlawfully built on public lands.
We demand settling the case of Vassily Popov and bring to
justice all those involved in the provocation!
Sergei Mitrokhin
Chair of the YABLOKO party
See also:
Elections
to the State Duma 2011
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