Press Release, 4.04.2025

Photo: Vladimir Yefimov / Photo from social media

The Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court has made a decision on the third criminal case against journalist and leader of the regional branch of the Yabloko party Vladimir Yefimov. Yefimov was sentenced to two years in a penal colony under two articles – “demonstration of extremist symbols” and “discrediting the army” (Article 282.4, Part 1; and Article 280.3, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Taking into account the existing sentence in the second criminal case – 1.5 years in a penal colony – the total term of imprisonment was two years. Yefimov is also prohibited from publishing on the Internet and administering web-sites for three years. Vladimir Yefimov’s defense intends to appeal both the sentences, however, next week Yefimov must appear at the Federal Penitentiary Service facility to serve his sentence.

The appeal of the decision on the second criminal case on “discrediting the army” (Article 280.3 Part 1 of the Criminal Code) will be held in the Cassation Court in Vladivostok. The complaint against today’s decision on the third case will be filed in the second instance – the Kamchatka Regional Court.

It should be noted that the third criminal he case is based on Vladimir Yefimov’s post on social networks with footage from the feature film “Cabaret” directed by Bob Fosse. The events of the film take place during the Weimar Republic – a swastika appears in the screenshots in Vladimir Yefimov’s post. The journalist also compared the looks by the modern Russian pop singer Shaman with one of the characters in the film.

The public prosecutor asked four years in a penal colony for Yefimov in the third case. The court issued a two-year sentence and combined it with the previously issued punishment in the second criminal case for “discrediting the army.” Then, journalist Vladimir Yefimov was convicted for a post in which he compared the military spending of the Russian budget with spending on education and health care.

The punishment for the first criminal case for “discrediting the army” against Vladimir Yefimov was made on 31 March, 2023. He was fined 200,000 roubles. Before that, Yefimov had been brought to administrative responsibility several times under articles on “discrediting the army” and “demonstrating extremist symbols.” The reason was also his anti-war publications.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, five party members have become defendants in criminal cases related to military censorship. Leaders of the Yakutsk and Vologda branches of Yabloko Anatoly Nogovitsyn and Nikolai Yegorov were found guilty of “discrediting the army” and sentenced to fines of 200.000 roubles each. Journalist from Khakassia and member of Yabloko Mikhail Afanasyev was found guilty of distributing “fakes about the army” and sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison. The court is hearing a criminal case against Vasily Neustroyev, an activist of the party from St. Petersburg, who is accused under the article on “fakes about the army”. He is currently held in pretrial detention facility.

A criminal case has also been opened against the Deputy Chairman of Yabloko Lev Shlosberg, allegedly for failure to comply with “foreign agent” legislation (Article 330.1 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Shlosberg is now under the written pledge not to leave the country; the court have begun hearings.

Read more on persecution of Yabloko members since the start of the special military operation.