Police detained Valentina Komkova, Chair of the local Yabloko branch in Miass, the Chelyabinsk region, to prevent her from attending a court hearing
Press Release, 26.11.2024
Photo: Valentina Komkova / Photo from the personal archive
Valentina Komkova was on her way to the Chelyabinsk Regional Court to give evidence on behalf of the defence in the case of a Miass resident who was accused of “demonstrating extremist symbols”. Komkova was stopped on the road by traffic police officers. They said that they had “instructions” to detain the human rights activist “until her identity was established”. Valentina Komkova was taken to the police station, despite having a passport, and was held there for some time, so that she missed the court hearing. Afterwards, the leader of the Miass Yabloko was released. According to some information, they are going to draw up a report on Komkova for her alleged “discrediting the army”.
Valentina Komkova is involved in human rights activities. In 2022, she managed to get two administrative cases of “discrediting the armed forces” dismissed against Miass school teacher Tatyana Merzlyakova.
The court hearing, which Valentina Komkova missed as was held by traffic police officers was postponed due to her detention.
Read more about the persecution of Yabloko members after the start of the “special operation”.
Posted: November 26th, 2024 under Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Judiciary, Russia-Ukraine relations, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.