Press Release, 10.04.2026

Screenshot from Grigory Gribenko’s video in which he describes the situation from inside a traffic police car

Today, 10 April, Irkutsk Yabloko leader Grigory Gribenko reported that traffic police inspectors had made three attempts to stop his car before forcibly taking him for a medical examination, on the grounds that he was allegedly intoxicated. Gribenko subsequently submitted samples at an independent laboratory. He believes the “crackdown” was a planned special operation by the security forces and may constitute “retaliation” for Yabloko’s attempts to organise a rally in defence of Telegram and “For a Free Internet” in Irkutsk.

Grigory Gribenko connects the incident to the attempt to organise a rally in defence of Telegram and “For a Free Internet” — an event that had been scheduled for 1 March but was refused a permission by the authorities. Today, 10 April, he reported that his car was stopped three times, and that it had then been searched “for the presence of narcotics,” after which he himself was taken to a drug treatment clinic for examination.

“Specialists were already waiting for me in the office. They first tested me for alcohol intoxication. The test, of course, showed 0.000 per mille. Then they took a sample to test for various drugs. I had assumed they would do an express test in my presence and only then take a sample for the laboratory. But instead I was simply handed a document stating that the results would not be ready in five days!!!”— the politician wrote on his social media, accompanying the post with video footage from the scene.

A police officer then arrived at the clinic and handed Grigory Gribenko an official warning against holding any public events in the period from 10 April to 11 May.

Photo: Screenshot from Grigory Gribenko’s video showing a police officer issuing him the “warning”

Following this, the politician went to a private laboratory and submitted samples independently. The results are expected on Monday, 13 April.

“I have no faith in the fair operation of state bodies in this situation, and I believe that only publicity and public resonance can help here. I urge you to share this post and spread the word about the lawlessness taking place in our country,” Gribenko stated.

It should be noted that Grigory Gribenko is a co-organiser of the action in defence of Telegram and “For a Free Internet.” The event had been scheduled for 1 March but was refused a permission by the authorities, who cited “significant public attention to the forthcoming event” as identified through “monitoring of social media”. Gribenko is pursuing legal action against the Irkutsk city administration, arguing that the refusal to give a permission for the event was unlawful.