Press Release, 6.02.2025

Photo: Ruslan Zinatullin holding a poster in support of Konstantin Smirnov “Konstantin Smirnov is a journailst, not a criminal” at a picket permitted by the authorities, on 1 February, 2025. / Photo by Tatarstan Yabloko

A protocol was drawn up against the Chairman of Tatarstan Yabloko Ruslan Zinatullin for repeated violation of picketing rules for a poster in support of our colleague from Ryazan Yabloko, journalist Konstantin Smirnov, at a permitted picket “For Freedom of Speech and the Press”. Nevertheless, Zinatullin was detained and was left overnight at the police station.

According to the police, the inscription on Zinatullin’s poster did not correspond to the stated theme of the picket held by Yabloko in Kazan past weekend. Tatarstan’s Yabloko notes that during the picket, police officers and a responsible official of the Kazan Executive Committee did not reprimand Zinatullin regarding this poster.

The punishment under Article 20.2, Part 8, of the Code of Administrative Offenses enivsaged up to 30 days of arrest, from 40 to 200 hours of compulsory work or a fine of 150,000 to 300,000 roubles.

UPDATE: February 7, 15:00. The Vakhitovsky District of Kazan fined Ruslan Zinatullin 250,000 roubles.

Read more on persecution of Yabloko members since the start of the special military operation.