Internet media VidSboku, 20.05.2025

Photo: Konstantin Smirnov at one of the court hearings / Photo by internet media VidSboku

Professor of the Department of Arabic Philology at St. Petersburg State University and Ryazan native Mikhail Suvorov has sent an appeal vouching for Vidsboku (Side View) editor-in-chief Konstantin Smirnov – he requests changing his preventive measure to house arrest or any other not involving deprivation of liberty. The appeal is addressed to the Head of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Ryazan Region, Oleg Vasilyev, investigator Dmitry Zhatkin, and the Soviet District Court of Ryazan. The collective appeal was also signed by representatives of the public, legal community, businesses, and culture.

Without addressing the charges brought against Konstantin Smirnov, Professor Mikhail Suvorov notes that detention is “an unjustifiably severe measure, as he poses no real danger to society”.

“Personally, I have known Konstantin Smirnov for a long time and only in a positive light. My late father, Nikolai Suvorov, associate professor at Yesenin Ryazan State University, with whom they engaged in public and educational activities beneficial to the country, also told me many good things about him,” the appeal from the St. Petersburg State University professor runs.

A collective appeal from public representatives has also been sent to the Investigative Committee and the court requesting a change in the preventive measure for Konstantin Smirnov.

The appeal was signed by Honorary Professor of Ryazan State University and renowned historian Vyacheslav Kozlyakov; Chairman of the Ryazan public organisation Ecological Ryazan Alliance Yevgeny Rybakov; historian and head of the Research Centre of the Ryazan Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve Irina Kusova; lawyer Petr Ivanov; Petr Zavisho, local historian, tour guide, author of books about Ryazan and formerly a well-known TV presenter, farmer Vladimir Mimoglyadov, entrepreneur Dmitry Bochkov, and lawyer Dmitry Shatilov.

The signatories do not comment on the charges brought against Konstantin Smirnov but note that detention is an exceptional and severe measure. Addressing the investigation and court they note that they know Konstantin Smirnov exclusively in a positive light – as a caring and decent member of society. The signatories expressed confidence that Konstantin Smirnov will not evade the investigation, will not in any way obstruct the proceedings in his case, and expressed their readiness to vouch that if a milder preventive measure is chosen for Konstantin Smirnov, he will not violate the conditions established for him by law.

A separate letter vouching for Konstantin Smirnov was sent to the Investigative Committee by Dilbar Klado, the widow of environmental scientist Alexei Yablokov and journalist with half a century of experience. The letter runs, in particular: “I have known Konstantin Smirnov for just over eight years not only as a fellow writer and activist of the YablokovSad (YablokovGarden) movement. Konstantin Smirnov not only planted apple trees himself with his colleagues but also donated more than 100 seedlings to the garden. Konstantin also tried to help our YablokovSad and museum financially. Konstantin Smirnov is an active village council deputy, I would say – a person actively concerned about the fate of the Ryazan region and Russia.”

Konstantin Smirnov has been in pre-trial detention since 31 January on charges of “extortion”; he does not admit guilt. Smirnov’s detention period expires on 30 May; the court, at the request of the investigation, may extend this preventive measure or choose another one not involving deprivation of liberty.

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