The state to compensate moral damage for unlawful persecution to Viktor Shalyakin, the leader of the local branch of Yabloko in Novgorod
Press Release, 01.02.2023
Photo: Viktor Shalyakin / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
On 30 January, the Novgorod District Court satisfied the claims Viktor Shalyakin, head of the local branch of the Yabloko party in Novgorod, against the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Finance of Russia for compensation of his expenses connected with the trial and moral damage.
It should be noted that on 20 April 2022, police major Irina Inkuyeva filed a report on an administrative offense against Yabloko member Viktor Shalyakin, allegedly for his illegal campaigning: according to the police, Shalyakin was distributed postcards of the Yabloko candidate Ksenia Cherepanova “Cherepanova stands for peace!” (https://eng.yabloko.ru/three-administrative-protocols-at-once-drawn-up-against-the-chairman-of-the-yabloko-branch-in-novgorod/). In fact, Viktor Shalyakin placed several Yabloko posters. Then there followed a long trial: twice the court of the first instance found Viktor Shalyakin, twice the court of appeal overturned these decisions (https://eng.yabloko.ru/28516-2/ ). Only the third time the court dismissed the case.
In November 2022, Viktor Shalyakin filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Finance of Russia in connection with unlawful prosecution. The court ordered the Russian Federation to reimburse Victor Shalyakin for the costs of a linguistic examination and the services of a lawyer, as well as to pay compensation for moral damage in the amount of 15,000 roubles.
It should be noted that in total last year, four administrative protocols were drawn up against Viktor Shalyakin: one about “illegal campaigning”, one about “insulting the authorities”, and two about “discrediting the army”. In the course of numerous trials, two fines against Aviation Major Viktor Shalyakin, veteran of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, about “illegal campaigning” and “discrediting the army” were appealed to higher courts. The amount of the two remaining fines, which Shalyakin, with the support of donors, paid to the budget, amounted to 80,000 roubles.
Posted: February 2nd, 2023 under Elections, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Judiciary, Regional and Local Elections, Regional and Local Elections 2022, Russia-Ukraine relations, Yabloko's Regional Branches.