Press Release, 5.02.2021

In the photo: Daria Bolshakova /Photo by the Press Service of the Kaliningrad branch of Yabloko

The judge of the Central District Court of the city of Kaliningrad found Daria Bolshakova, a member of the Kaliningrad branch of the Yabloko party, guilty of committing a repeated violation of  Article 20.2 Part 8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of the established procedure for organising or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picketing) and sentenced her to a fine of 150,000 thousand roubles. Actually the Yabloko activist was convicted of a single picket which do not require any coordination or permission from the authorities in accordance with Russian laws. The trial took place almost immediately after Darya Bolshakova’s three-day arrest in the Chernyakhovsk detention centre for participation in an unpermitted action on January 23.

As stated in the court ruling of February 3, “… on October 10, 2020, … being a participant in a public event – picketing, and using visual propaganda means in the form of a poster “Smile if you are tired of Putin”, Bolshakova violated the order of its holding”.

The regional branch of the party notes that the verdict will be appealed within ten days, but do not hope for a fair trial. Colleagues from the Kaliningrad branch of Yabloko paid for the services of a lawyer and also started fundraising.

The court considered the single picket, which took place on March 19, 2020, be the first administrative violation of Bolshakova. Then Daria Bolshakova came out in support of Khabarovsk protests for which she was fined 10,000 roubles, but failed to receive her copy of a corresponding written decision from the court.