Yabloko activist from Ryazan Maria Rakcheeva fined for appealing to the authorities to save lime trees
Press Release, 27.03.2026
Photo: Maria Rakcheyeva in court on 27 March 2026 / Photo by Ryazan Yabloko
On 27 March, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Ryazan found journalist and Yabloko party member Maria Rakcheyeva guilty under Article 20.2, Part 2, of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (unlawful organisation of a public event) and imposed a fine of 20,000 roubles. The administrative case was initiated on the basis of a video appeal of Maria Rakcheyeva to the authorities calling for the preservation of trees in Ryazan’s Central Park.
The video, recorded by Rakcheyeva in connection with a landscaping project for Ryazan’s Central Park — which provides, among other things, for the felling of trees in the park — was published on 20 March. In the footage, Maria and several activists are standing in the park, and Maria speaks about the need to save the lime and maple trees that are being barbarically cut down in the name of urban improvement. The video also notes that several thousand signatures have been collected against the project. According to the participants, the project envisages the construction of a car parking and a children’s playground covering approximately 1,800 square metres within the park grounds. The Ryazan city administration, for its part, has stated that only hazardous and diseased trees are to be felled.
The video appeal was submitted to the Investigative Committee of Russia with a request to carry out an inspection of the parks’s landscaping project.
On Friday, 27 March, it was reported that Maria had been detained on charges of unlawful organization of a public event. On the same day, the court found her guilty and imposed the 20,000-rouble fine on her.
Maria Rakcheyeva did not admit guilt. She and her defence counsel argued that the video appeal constituted a form of oral address to the public authorities and could not be classified as a rally or any other public event.
It should be noted that the landscaping project is being carried out under an investment agreement with a charitable foundation belonging to Sergei Kolesnikov, co-owner of the TechnoNIKOL company. Its estimated value is one billion roubles.
The authors of the appeal are requesting that both the landscaping project and the lawfulness of the investment agreement be examined.
Posted: March 27th, 2026 under Environmental Policies, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Judiciary, Protection of Environment, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.