Press Release, 30.03.2023

Photo: Alexander Yefimov / Photo from the Yabloko Press Service

Alexander Yefimov, a member of the Federal Bureau of the Yabloko party, was found guilty of “discrediting the army” for publishing a UN report on victims in Ukraine on the VKontakte social media and fined 30,000 roubles.  Alexander is going to appeal the decision.

On the morning of 29 March, Alexander Yefimov received a phone call from police officers from the Internal Affairs Department in the city of Volzhsky, the Volgograd Region, and was invited to a conversation. The politician, who arrived at the police station with his lawyer, learned that the Criminal Investigation Department had received materials from the Centre for Combating Extremism, which the police qualified as “discrediting the armed forces of the RF”. Yefimov’s post on VKontakte on 22 January with official UN data on the number of victims in Donbass in 2021 and after the start of the “special operation” got in the focus of attention of the law enforcement.

Alexander Yefimov refused to give an explanation. Police officers drew up a protocol on administrative violation under Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (“discrediting the armed forces of the RF”) against Yefimov. Immediately after the protocol was drawn up, the politician was taken to the city court.

The court hearing of the case took place without participation of Alexander Efimov, who left on a planned business trip. Yefimov was represented by his lawyer.

Numerous violations in the case and the absurdity of the accusation did not prevent the judge from fining Alexander Yefimov 30,000 roubles under the article on “discrediting the army.”

Yefimov intends to appeal the decision. He also notes that the persecution is connected with his public stance and active opposition to the initiative to return to Volgograd the name Stalingrad, connected with Joseph Stalin.

Since the beginning of the special operation 33 party activists have received 41 administrative protocols on “discrediting the army”, also three criminal cases on “fakes” and “discrediting the army” have been filed against Yabloko members. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, the leader of the Yabloko branch in Yakutia, was found guilty of “discrediting the army” (Article 280.3, Part 1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and a large fine of 200,000 roubles was imposed on him. Nogovitsin intends to appeal the verdict. Two more cases against Yabloko members on charges of committing a criminal offence are in courts: Mikhail Afanasyev, a journalist from Khakassia, is accused of spreading “military fakes” using his official position (Article 207.3, Part 2, Clause “a” of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The Chairman of the Kamchatka branch of Yabloko Vladimir Yefimov is being accused in the case of “discrediting the army” (Article 280.3 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Read more about the persecution of Yabloko members after the start of the “special operation”