Press Release, 17.02.2021

In the photo: Ivan Krisanov / photo by the Press Service of the Ivanovo branch of Yabloko

On 17 February, the Oktyabrskiy District Court of Ivanovo found Ivan Krisanov, a Bureau member of the Ivanovo branch of Yabloko, guilty of committing an administrative offense under Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation “Violation of the established procedure for organsing or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picketing” and imposed a fine of 20,000 roubles.

The court ruled that on 31 January, the number of allowed participants of the rally in defence of political prisoners was exceeded. The rally was organised at the initiative of the regional branch of Yabloko in the so-called “Hyde Park”, a special site in the city designated for holding rallies without notifying or asking a permission from the authorities.

The activists of the regional branch of the party say that, according to regional legislation, the number of protesters in the city “Hyde Park” cannot be more than 150 people. At the same time, the judge did not explain how the organisers of the rally could predict a more massive gathering of people and prevent it. It should be also noted that a similar case was considered by the Constitutional Court of Russia, which indicated that if there is no public danger, then the excess of the established number of participants in public events in “Hyde Parks” does not constitute an administrative offense.

Earlier, a similar fine under the same article was assigned to Andrei Avtoneev, head of the regional branch of the party, for organising a rally in the “Hyde Park” on 23 January. Both politicians disagree with the decisions made by the court and intend to appeal them to higher courts. The Ivanovo branch of Yabloko emphasises that they will continue seeking the release of all political prisoners in Russia.