Nikolai Rybakov on the decision of the Supreme Court

Press Release, 1.11.2019

Photo: Lev Ponomaryov

On November 1, the Supreme Court ruled to liquidate themovement “For Human Rights”, created in 1997 by Lev Ponomaryov. A lawsuit demanding the liquidation of the organisation was filed by the Ministry of Justice on October 11. The reason for going to court was violations in the charter of the organisation, which “For Human Rights” proposed to correct during the next Congress, but the Ministry of Justice refused to postpone the deadlines. Another reason is a violation of the law on foreign agents. Lev Ponomaryov never recognised “For Human Rights” as a foreign agent, for which he was repeatedly fined. These grounds also formed the basis of the claim.

All these years, employees and volunteers of the movement have provided legal and consulting aid people of different social status and different ages on any issues related to violation of human rights. Protecting the rights of prisoners, freedom of entrepreneurship, independent media, the rights of pensioners and the poor, family and labour rights of citizens, the rights of citizens to free and fair elections, the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly, and assistance to migrants were all in the competence of the movement.

Deputy Chairman of the Yabloko Party Nikolai Rybakov commented on the court decision:

“The decision of the Supreme Court on the liquidation of the movement “For Human Rights” is another sign of the lack of independence of the courts and incompetence of the judicial system as a whole, as well as the complete arbitrariness of power corporations. And yet it is also the evidence of the moral degradation of the Russian government.

Lev Ponomaryov is a man with an impeccable reputation. The movement “For Human Rights” is really engaged in protecting the interests and legitimate rights of our citizens. But last year, the so-called justice did not hesitate to cast Lev Aleksandrovich Ponomaryov, no longer a young man, behind bars. The formal reason was a regular Facebook post calling for support for young people accused of the apparently trumped-up Novoye Velichiye (the New Greatness orgnasation) case.

Ponomaryov is a person who has a moral dimension in politics. There is simply no such dimension for representatives of today’s Russian authorities.

The decision to liquidate the movement For Human Rights is a decision against people and against compliance with laws in our country. We will support Ponomaryov and the noble work that he does.”

It should be noted that Lev Ponomaryov was Yabloko’s authorised representative in the State Duma elections in 2016 and the presidential elections in 2018.