Statement by the Yabloko party, 14.11.2019

The Internet resources of the odious businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin and the state television channel Russia-24, functioning on the money of taxpayers, conduct an organised campaign of spreading libel against Boris Vishnevsky leader of the Yabloko faction in the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg.

The accusations against Vishnevsky represent a lie from beginning to end and the implementaiton of a political order. We connect this campaign with the present leaders of St. Petersburg and consider it revenge for political activity and Vishnevsky’s principled political stance.

Boris Vishnevsky is a conspicuous opponent of the government and personally of Governor Alexander Beglov, deputy of the city parliament, laureate of the Golden Pen of Russia award of the Union of Journalists of Russia, defender of the cultural and historical heritage of St. Petersburg, he defends the rights of the residents of St.Petersburg and enjoys well-deserved authority and respect from citizens. That is precisely why the authorities are persecuting him today, unleashing a dirty media campaign against him.

The officials are waging a similar war against their other opponents and human rights defenders. The authorities that have no arguments to respond to an opposition and unable to engage in dialogue can only intimidate people and disseminate libel.

The Yabloko party demands from the administration of St. Petersburg to immediately cease the campaign against Vishnevsky, and the law enforcement to launch an investigation against its organisers. All those responsible for the dissemination of libelous information should be identified and held accountable.

We also believe that the St. Petersburg parliament should publicly condemn campaigns that are absolutely unacceptable from either a moral or legal point of view.

For more than six month, the law on the so-called “fake news” has been in effect in Russia. The authorities have a great opportunity to demonstrate whether it works in the interests of citizens or was adopted in order to fight with opponents.

Hands off Boris Vishnevsky!

Emilia Slabunova,

Chair of the Yabloko party