Statement by the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma, 29.11.2019

Searches have been going on throughout the country at the offices of the Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK) for several months already. The equipment and property of the organisation are seized, employees are summoned for endless interrogations. It is clear that such actions by the authorities are politically motivated and aim to paralyse the activities of the organisation that they do not like. Harassment of FBK employees and supporters, confusing charges of laundering funds with extremely vague wordings, adding the organisation to the list of “foreign agents” on the basis of two transfers of two private individuals, endless searches and detention of everyone associated with the activities of this organisation  – all this represent recognisable actions, the familiar handwriting of frightened and disoriented security officials. All this is a continuation of reprisals, the path of which the authorities took this summer.

Repressive actions on the part of the authorities against the dissenting are destructive for our country. They will not be able to intimidate active citizens, but they radicalise the protest to such forms that will become dangerous for the state. The activities of public organisations, peaceful rallies and demonstrations are civilized forms of civic activism that should not be prosecuted.

We, the deputies of the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma, demand [from the authorities] to cease systematic pressure on the Anti-Corruption Fund, its employees and supporters; stop the police campaign on intimidation of citizens.

Maxim Kruglov,

Head of the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma