Statement by the Novgorod branch of Yabloko, 3.04.2020

On 2 April, 2020, the head and members of the independent Alliance of Doctors medical workers union carried out a humanitarian mission in the Novgorod Region. Medical union workers brought by car medical masks, goggles, protective suits, and disinfectants to the hospitals and ambulance stations, which are lacking in the region’s health facilities. In the absence of personal protective equipment, doctors, paramedics, and nurses assisting patients daily endanger their lives.

In this difficult moment for our country and the whole world, when everyone needs to show solidarity in the fight against the coronavirus infection, the police of the Novgorod region tried to disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to hospitals. On the M11 federal highway, at the entrance to Okulovka, the Novgorod police unreasonably detained the participants of the mission, evacuated their car, and were keeping medical workers in the building of the Okulovsky police station for more than eight hours drafting reports. The pinnacle of lawlessness was the beating by policemen in plainclothes of doctor Anastasia Vasilyeva, leader of the independent trade union, and her detention until today. The brutality of the police actions cannot be justified by the high alert regime [in view of possible COVID-19] introduced by the decree of the Governor of the Novgorod region.

I am certain that the high alert regime cannot violate the rights and freedoms of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution, in particular, restrict freedom of movement. According to the Decree of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin No. 239 of April 2, 2020, governors are not entitled to restrict the movement of vehicles engaged in inter-regional transportation.

I regret that Governor Andrei Nikitin chose not to intervene in the situation. He only expressed his opinion on Facebook that only the United Russia party and a limited circle of pro-government public organisations can deliver humanitarian aid. In the face of universal danger, I consider separation of people and public organisations into “friends” and “strangers” absolutely unacceptable.

I demand from the Public Prosecutor General’s Office to conduct a comprehensive and objective check of the actions of law enforcement officers of the Novgorod region in connection with the detention and use of physical force against members of the Alliance of Doctors trade union, punish those involved in the beating of Anastasia Vasilyeva and prevent other such cases in the future.

Anna Cherepanova,

Chair of the Novgorod branch  of Yabloko,

deputy of the Duma of Veliky Novgorod