Press Release, 21.03.2023

Photo: Anatoly Nogovitsyn / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

On 21 March, the Yakutsk City Court found Anatoly Nogovitsyn, the leader of the Yabloko branch in Yakutia, guilty of “discrediting the army” (Article 280.3, Part 1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and imposed on him a fine of 280,000 roubles, which was reduced to 200,000 roubles due to the prohibition of certain actions imposed on Nogovitsyn since September 2022. In addition, until the court’s decision enters into force, Nogovitsyn is banned from leaving Russia and is required “proper behavior”. The politician intends to appeal the verdict, as he does not consider himself guilty.

It should be noted that Anatoly Nogovitsyn was convicted for publishing a video on his Telegram channel expressing an opinion about “partial mobilisation”.

The criminal against Nogovitsyn case was initiated in September 2022 after the publication on the politician’s Telegram channel of his video message to the residents of Yakutia, in which Nogovitsyn voiced his opinion about “partial mobilisation” and a special operation.

As a preventive measure, the court chose a ban on certain actions for Nogovitsyn – the leader of the regional branch of the party could not use the means of communication and leave the house at the wrong time.

By appointment of the investigation, Anatoly Nogovitsyn underwent a psychiatric examination on 14 October. Forensic experts from the Yakutia Psychoneurological Dispensary confirmed that the politician was healthy and did not need compulsory treatment, but distorted his words about the goals of the Yabloko party’s work, attributing to Yabloko a desire to seize power in the state. Nogovitsyn also noted that doctors tried to provoke him into statements that could be used against him in court.

Earlier, Nogovitsyn was fined 30,000 roubles under an administrative article on “discrediting the army” for publishing in his Telegram channel a link to a video commentary by Novaya Gazeta journalist Yelena Kostyuchenko about what happened in Nikolayev (a city in southern Ukraine ), as well as a video with the participation of allegedly local residents of Berdyansk and Kherson.

The Yabloko party considers the persecution of its activists to be political, and the new articles of the Criminal Code punishing any criticism of hostilities as repressive and unlawful. Nikolai Rybakov, Chairman of the Yabloko party, came to support Nogovitsyn at one of the court hearings.

“We are convinced that Anatoly did not commit any crime. At the same time, we are realists and understand how the system works,” Nikolai Rybakov commented on the prospects for the Nogovitsyn case to Yakutia.Info earlier.

Read more about the persecution of Yabloko members after the start of the “special operation”.