Press Release, 27.11.2025

Photo: Olga Shtannikova / Photo by the St.Petersburg branch of Yabloko

On Thursday, 27 November, a hearing took place at Kalininsky District Court in St.Petersburg on an administrative case concerning “demonstration of extremist symbols and attributes” (Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code). Yabloko MP of the Legislative Assembly of St.Peterburg, Olga Shtannikova, was accused of such an offence. She, back in 2013, reposted on VKontakte a message about an anti-corruption investigation mentioning politician Alexei Navalny.

During the court hearing, lawyer Andrei Chertkov, representing Olga Shtannikova, indicated gross non-compliance of the protocol drawn up by Ministry of Internal Affairs officers with legislative requirements, as well as the absence of evidence and elements of the offence. He insisted that the case must be terminated immediately.

“Equating the surname, first name and (or) photograph of a physical person with attributes of a non-commercial organisation undoubtedly testifies to the unbridled fantasy of officials who initiated the commencement of proceedings in the case of an administrative offence,” Andrei Chertkov emphasised during the court hearing.

The court, nevertheless, supported the Ministry of Internal Affairs and fined Olga Shtannikova 1,500 roubles.

The decision will be appealed to a higher court, whilst this proceeding itself is nothing other than an attempt to prevent Olga Shtannikova from participating in elections for the coming year (such a ban is provided for by Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code). Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov stated this following the court hearing:

“If the court’s decision is not overturned, this will entail an automatic ban on participation in elections for a year, that is, until the end of the election period for the State Duma and St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly next year. The exclusive task of this court is to deprive the well-known St.Petersburg politician from Yabloko, Olga Shtannikova, of the opportunity to participate in the next elections. Shtannikova is a patriot of her country and a person who has done a lot for her native St Petersburg.”

It should be noted that on 4 December, Vyborg District Court in St.Petersburg will consider a similar protocol drawn up against Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov.

Neither Olga Shtannikova nor Nikolai Rybakov have ever published materials that Russian law classifies as “extremist symbols”.