Statement by the Ivanovo branch of Yabloko, 9.09.2020

A search was conducted in the apartment of Irina Maltseva, candidate to the Ivanovo City Duma from the Yabloko party, on 9 September at 6 a.m. The investigative actions were carried out on the basis of the decision of the Basmanny Court of Moscow on the so-called 2003 YUKOS case. Similar measures were taken against Andrei Sergeyev, deputy of the Council of the Bogorodsky rural settlement of the Ivanovo district, and Nikolai Dyachkov, regional coordinator of the United Democrats project in the Ivanovo region.

It is obvious that the YUKOS case, to which the Ivanovo opposition, even theoretically, was in no way involved, is nothing more than a screen for covering up unprecedented pressure on strong candidates in the elections of representative bodies of local self-government. The only goal of the criminal regime is to demoralise our candidates four days before the main vote, as well as to create difficulties in their election campaigns.

The Ivanovo regional branch of the Yabloko party declares unconditional support for Irina Maltseva, Andrei Sergeyev and Nikolai Dyachkov, as well as our colleagues from other regions that are subject to political terror and repression.

Irina Maltseva is a person of invincible will and incredible stamina! Her social and political activities are a bone in the throat of the United Russia functionaries and all those who are around [United Russia]. The best way to support Irina in this situation is to vote for her in the elections on 13 September!

We will not surrender to intimidation!

The Bureau of the Regional Council of the regional branch of the Yabloko party in the Ivanovo region