Press release based on the statement by the Yabloko party, 7.09.2018

On 7 September, the Pskov Regional Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs opened criminal proceedings agains the Pskov Region branch of Yabloko for disseminating leaflets calling upon voters to spoil ballot papers in the gubernatorial elections.

Yabloko insists that the investigation is absurd because spoiling ballot papers is well-known tactics that has been used many times before. Moreover, voters have the right to spoil ballot papers.

The statement says that “The authorities are prosecuting their popliteal opponents instead of solving serious social problems in the region. Many times we have witnessed that local authorities prevented Yabloko and Lev Shlosberg, the head of the Pskov Region party branch, from participating in elections using the municipal filter. Shlosberg was once deprived of his mandate in regional parliament and was attacked because of his investigation into the death of Russian paratroopers in Donetsk. Furthermore, Yabloko candidates had all changes to win in the elections that will take place this Sunday, but they were withdrawn from it.”

The situation is absurd because Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin made an address to the citizens suggesting that they spoil ballot papers if they like none of the candidates. If law enforcement agencies want to be consistent, they should open a criminal case against Sobaynin as well.

“However, we know that the court system in Russia is selective. Pressure and intimidation is part of the governmental policy to suppress freedom and do away with political opponents,” the statement run.

Yabloko called on the law enforcement to stop criminal proceedings against Yabloko and fight the administrative rescue rather that the opposition.