Press Release, 23.04.2018

Svetlana Vasilkova, Yabloko’s deputy of the Pustoshkinsky District Assembly in the Pskov region, was attacked for the third time. This happened on the threathold of the report of the dstrict head before the deputies.

Unidentified persons smashed two bricks through the bedroom window of Svetlana Vasilkova’s private house in the Pustoshka town where she lives. This happened on 21 April 208 at about 23:00.

The stones fell on the bed, Svetlana Vasilkova was near by, but fortunately was not hit.

She wrote another application asking the police to institute a criminal case.

It should be also noted that street lighting was turned off in the whole town of Pustoshka in the evening of 21 April. It was not possible to establish and detain the attackers in hot pursuit.

The first attack on the house of Svetlana Vasilkova occurred on the night of 4 August, 2017, the second on 3 March, 2018. Lev Shlosberg, deputy of the Pskov Regional Assembly and head of the regional branch of Yabloko, appealed after each attack to Yuri Instrankin, head of the Ministry of Interior for the Pskov region, with a demand to identify the perpetrators, however the police not only did not find the attackers, but moreover, both the times refused to open a criminal case.

Svetlana Vasilkova was twice elected deputy of the district assembly from Yabloko, she also ran for the post of head of the Pustoshkinsky district.

Lev Shlosberg connects the attacks on Svetlana Vasilkova with her professional activities as deputy. Svetlana Vasilkova is known for her independent stance and her control over the activities of the district administration.

On 27 April, the Pustoshkinsky District Assembly will listen to the report of Yury Zhukov, district head, on the work of the administration of the Pustoshkinsky district in 2017.

Lev Shlosberg notes that “there are criminal persons behind the attacks on the home of Svetlana Vasilkova, possibly former law enforcement officials and officials connected with them sharing common economic and political interests in the Pustoshkinsky district.”

Shlosberg also believes that “there are no other reasons for the demonstrative inaction of the local police”.

Lev Shlosberg has sent an appeal to Yuri Intrankin, head of the Ministry of Interior for the Pskov region, with a request to merge the three cases of attacks (those of 4 August, 2017, 3 March and 21 April, 2018) on the home of Svetlana Vasilkova into one.

“If the Pskov police does not begin to fulfill their duties, the appeal will be forwarded to the Minister of Interior of the Russian Federation,” Lev Shlosberg added.