Press Release, 25.10.2022

Photo: Mikhail Afanasyev / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Yelena Afansyeva, the wife of imprisoned Mikhail Afanasyev, a member of the Yabloko party, editor-in-chief of the “Novy Focus” media in Khakassia, is asking for help. Since the arrest of the breadwinner of the family, she and her five minor children have been in a difficult financial situation.

Mikhail Afanasyev has been in the pre-trial detention centre in the city of Abakan for over six months already. He is charged with “dissemination of fakes about the Russian army using one’s official position” (Article 207.3, Part 2, Paragraph “a” of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) for publishing an article on the website of his media about Khakassian riot police who allegedly refused to take part in the so-called “special operation” on the territory of Ukraine.

A possible punishment under this article “on fakes”, taking into account the position of Mikhail Afanasyev, is a fine from of 3 to 5 million roubles, or correctional labor up to five years, or imprisonment for a term from five to ten years.

Afanasyev, the winner of the Andrei Sakharov Prize “For Journalism as an Act”, wrote in peacetime mainly about the problems of orphans, defended the rights of adoptive parents in conflicts with guardianship authorities. Now his children need help. He wrote about this in a letter to friends.

The amount of financial aid in question is 300.000 roubles, with this money, the family of Mikhail Afanasyev will be able to pay off their debts and feed their children. Presumably, the consideration of the journalist’s case on the merits will begin in December 2022.

Yabloko asks Russian citizens to help Mikhail Afanasyev’s family.