Press Release, 29.03.2023

On 31 March, Vladimir Yefimov, a journalist and the leader of the regional branch of Yabloko, will make his las statement at the trial over him in the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court. The verdict can be pronounced on the same day.

Vladimir Yefimov is accused of “discrediting the army” (Article 280.3, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) for publications on social media. Earlier, the journalist was under pressure from the security forces for his pacifist position and was fined 30,000 roubles twice in administrative cases on “discrediting the army”.

On 21 May, 2022, Yefimov’s home was searched, and he himself was placed in a detention facility. Later, the preventive measure was changed for him and a ban on certain actions was assigned.

In 1989, Vladimir Yfimov became one of the organisers of the TVK television company, the first non-state independent television company in the USSR, and was its Editor-in-Chief for 18 years. In January 2021, he received the highest award of the regional branch of the Union of Journalists of Russia “Journalistic Glory of Kamchatka”.

Yabloko asks all to support Vladimir Yefimov coming to the trial on the day of the trial on 31 March. The meeting will be held in room No. 8 of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court at the address:  Akademika Kurchatova 6. The meeting starts at 11:30 local time (02:30 Moscow time).