Press Release, 17.10.2023

Photo: Artyom Sakharov / Photo from social media

Artyom Sakharov, an 18-year-old civil activist and a candidate member of Yabloko, was fined 75,000 roubles for reading poetry which was regarded by the authorities as a “repeated violation of the established procedure for organising or holding a public event” (Article 20.2 Part 8 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The decision was made by a judge of the Central District Court of Barnaul.

Artyom Sakharov, a student of the Faculty of Political Science at Altai State University, was accused of organising an unpermitted event Pushkin Readings, near the Alexander Pushkin monument in Barnaul. The poster for the event on social networks ran: “With these readings we will demonstrate our creative potential and the stance “For Peace!”, and also show solidarity with the defendants in the “Poet Mayakovsky [readings] case”, who were tortured a year ago and have been in prison since September 2022. To ensure your safety, we have got a permission for this event from local authorities.”

The event was indeed agreed upon with the administration of Barnaul. A notice of the rally was previously submitted to the mayor’s office. The organisers got a refusal because, according to city authorities, the event, the purpose of which was the reading of poetry, did not require a permission. Civil activists were told that it was enough to submit a notification about holding a cultural event, which was done.

Poems on different topics were recited at the Pushkin Readings. Artyom Sakharov pronounced several slogans: “Peace to the world!”, “Freedom for political prisoners!” and “Freedom of creativity!” at the end of his reciting, after which he was detained by the police. The police drew up a report of an offence against the civil activist and, after a night in a pre-trial detention cell, he was taken to court. The court fined the activist under Article 20.2 Part 8 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

Previously, a protocol was drawn up against Artyom Sakharov under the same administrative article for the fact that on 24 February, 2022, he built an impromptu memorial for laying flowers in memory of those killed during the so-called “special operation” on the territory of Ukraine. Artem Sakharov, who was a minor that time, was fined 30,000 roubles.

Артему Сахарову также жертвуют несогласные с цензурными и репрессивными статьями. Собрано уже 65 тыс. рублей из 75 тыс. И сейчас кандидат в члены «Яблока» обращается за помощью к коллегам по партии.

People who learned about the imposition of such an exorbitant punishment helped Sakharov to raise the amount to cover his first fine. Now those who disagree with the censorship and repressive articles donate Artyom money for the second fine, which is more than two times larger than the first one; 65,000 roubles out of 75,000 roubles have already been raised.

The Yabloko party continues to raise funds to pay the fines of fellow party members affected by the articles on censorship. Yabloko asks Russian citizens to help Artyom Sakharov and other activists who are not keeping silent about the present situation despite repression.