Press Release, 06.02.2023

Photo: Mikhail Afanasyev, his wife Yelena and son / Photo from social media

Yabloko closes the collection of donations to cover the fine for Mikhail Afanasyev, a journalist from Khakassia, Editor-in-Chief of the Novy Focus media and a Yabloko party member. On 5 February, his wife Yelena Afanasyeva announced the collection of 450,000 roubles closed. We express gratitude to all who helped to raise money.

It should be noted that Mikhail Afanasyev, a laureate of the Andrei Sakharov Prize “For Journalism as an Act”, is charged with “inciting hatred” towards the security forces (Article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation). Mikhail Afanasyev, a member of the Yabloko party, is the owner, general director and a sole employee of the company. According to the case file, from 2018 to 2021, the legal entity posted on its web-site a number of articles aimed at “inciting enmity and hatred towards representatives of law enforcement agencies”.

An appeal against the decision of the court has been filed, but the date of the hearing has not yet been set. Nevertheless, in December 2022, Yabloko opened a fundraising so that to cover a fine for Mikhail Afanasyev, since it will be necessary to repay a debt to the state in the amount of almost half a million roubles within two months after the appeal decision is made.

The amount of almost half a million roubles was raised through the efforts of members and supporters of Yabloko, friends and colleagues of Mikhail Afanasyev, and caring citizens. More than 70,000 roubles were raised through an auction in support of political prisoners held at Yabloko on 24 January. In total, 624,000 roubles for political prisoners were received at the auction.

Earlier, Yabloko announced a fundraiser for the wife of the imprisoned journalist, Yelena Afanasyeva, which allowed her to close her debts and help provide for her children. Mikhail Afanasyev has dependent minor children.

In total, 2,463,000 roubles have been raised to pay fines and support those arrested under the “censorship articles” since the beginning of the so-called “special operation”. Yabloko thanks everyone who took part in the fundraising. Helping those who refused to remain silent, despite the threat to their security and lives, unites us and gives hope.

Meanwhile, the journalist will be kept in custody until 17 March. Also a criminal case was initiated against Afanasyev under the charges of disseminating false information about the armed forces of the Russian Federation using his official position (“fakes about the army” – Article 207.3 Clause “a” Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The law enforcement started investigation because of a publication on the website of the Novy Focus media, which ran that 11 riot police from Khakassia refused to participate in the so-called “special operation” on the territory of Ukraine.

The case was returned by the judge to the investigator, as the charge was drawn up with errors. The investigation fails to prove that Afanasiev disseminated false information about the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

The next hearing when a new charge will be brought against Mikhail Afanasyev will be held on Wednesday, 8 February.

Read more about the persecution of Yabloko members after the start of the “special operation”.