Press Release, 7 August 2026

Photo: Grigory Gribenko. Photo by Irkutsk Yabloko

Yabloko is launching a fundraiser among Russian citizens to cover legal fees for Grigory Gribenko, the former head of Irkutsk Yabloko. 40,000 roubles need to be raised.

It should be noted how his persecution unfolded.

Grigory Gribenko first noticed heightened attention from the police on 27 December 2025, the day Nikolai Rybakov visited Irkutsk to take part in a rally “In Defence of Lake Baikal. Against Clear-Cutting of Forests in the Lake’s Central Ecological Zone,” when his car was placed under surveillance.

He later became the organiser of a rally titled “For a Free Internet. Against the Blocking of Messengers and Social Networks,” which had initially been approved by the Irkutsk Mayor’s Office and was due to take place on 1 March 2026, but was cancelled at the last moment, at the end of the working day, on the grounds of “significant public attention to the issue,” allegedly identified through social media monitoring. The court of first instance and the appellate court subsequently upheld the refusal.

Grigory had intended to challenge the decision all the way up to the Supreme Court. In his view, this was what triggered the law enforcement agencies’ response.

Law enforcement officers subsequently staged a roadside stop targeting Gribenko. On the basis of the subjective opinion of a traffic police inspector, which was in no way substantiated (the report cited “behaviour inconsistent with the situation”), Gribenko was compelled to undergo a medical examination. This allegedly showed the presence of a banned substance at the minimum detectable level. That same day, Gribenko had a test carried out at the independent Helix clinic, which showed no trace of drugs in his system.

Thirteen days later, a search was carried out at Grigory Gribenko’s flat in connection with a case involving the distribution of banned substances, after which the Yabloko member was taken to a police station. Grigory was then subjected to a series of “carousel” arrests: he was first arrested for 12 days (https://eng.yabloko.ru/38026-2/ ), and then for a further 10 days (https://eng.yabloko.ru/38097-2/ ).

Following his release, Grigory Gribenko was forced, for reasons of safety, to step down as Chairman of the Irkutsk regional branch of Yabloko.

Grigory is married and is raising a young daughter.

Over this whole period, several court hearings have taken place. In order to obtain professional legal assistance, Grigory Gribenko turned to lawyers. Yabloko helped cover part of the costs, while the politician covered part himself.

However, 40,000 roubles still need to be paid. Only Russian citizens are allowed to make donations from their Russian bank accounts.