Statement by the Yabloko party, 6.07.2020

The Bureau of the Yabloko party considers the conviction of journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva not only the result of a fabricated “case”, but also the actual destruction of the right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by Article 29 of the Constitution of Russia. Despite the fact that the sentence is not related to deprivation of freedom, we regard it as unlawful and unfair and certainly subject to cancellation.

Both the indictment and the court decision are based on a deliberately biased “expert conclusion” [running that a journalist opinion was a manifestation of extremism], which was executed by people who are not specialists in this matter, and is not related to Khakass State University, which the investigation ordered to make an expert assessment [of the journalist’s article] and on behalf of which it was allegedly presented. However, this “conclusion” is not excluded from the list of evidence.

The court ignored the conclusions of truly qualified experts who have a reputation recognised by the scientific community in this matter.

The court found the journalist “guilty”, because she called the act of the person who had committed the attack of terror in Arkhangelsk “monstrous” and dared to say that the cruelty of the state could push him to commit this crime.

Yabloko states that there was no “justification of terrorism” in this opinion of Svetlana Prokopyeva

Yabloko regards the verdict as destroying the constitutional freedom of expression in Russia, because according to this logic, any opinion that the government does not like can be regarded as the basis for criminal punishment on the basis of biased “expert opinions”.

Yabloko demands the abrogation of this verdict, the end to the prosecution of Svetlana Prokopyeva and the punishment of those who fabricated her “case” and prepared biased “expert opinions”.

Yabloko has stood and will stand for freedom of speech and freedom of expression in Russia.

Nikolai Rybakov,

Yabloko Chairman