Press Release, 12.12.2024

Photo by Anatoly Zhdanov, Kommersant

A letter signed by the Yabloko Party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov was sent to the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and State Duma deputies. At a meeting of the Yabloko Federal Council on 30 November, Yabloko called on the authorities to release from custody and drop charges against all those who were convicted or are under investigation under the “anti-war articles” of the Criminal Code. An amnesty in Russia was last declared ten years ago and was timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Second World War.

Today, there are about a thousand prisoners in Russian prisons, persecuted by the state for their political views and positions. The use of new articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation has become widespread: the dissemination of so-called fakes about the army (Article 207.3), as well as words or actions that, in the opinion of investigative bodies, discredit the Russian army (Article 280.3). Practice has shown that almost any statement by a citizen that does not correspond to the official line of state power in relation to the special military operation, which has been ongoing for three years, can fall under these articles.

These are people who have not committed any serious crimes, but they were convicted for their words and their position. Increasingly more such people become convicted every day.

Yabloko is certain that the key demand of society to the state, especially during military operations and, consequently, endless killing of people, should be the demand for mercy. Without it, we will have neither justice, nor security, nor well-being, nor peace.

Yabloko notes in the letter that there has been no amnesty in Russia for almost ten years. This is the longest period in the history of our country since the 1970s. The last time an amnesty was announced was in 2015 and was timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Second World War. Before that, an amnesty was announced for each five-year anniversary of Victory, as well as for other important dates.

“In the future, there will be required a broad public discussion of systemic legislative changes needed for the humanisation of our state. However, now we simply need to release people who suffered for their words and their courage to pronounce them,” Yabloko’s letter to deputies of the State Duma runs.

In addition Yabloko also calls for the release from custody of all persons who are seriously ill, disabled people and women with children convicted of non-violent crimes.