Press release, 7.12.2018

Yabloko demanded that the Moscow City Court release human rights activist Lev Ponomarev immediately

According to Yabloko, arresting a respectable person like Ponomarev, who is the head of the “For Human Rights” movement, is illegal, offensive and mocking.

He expressed his civic stance by posting information in support of the young people who are being prosecuted in connection with the Novoye Velichiye (“New Greatness)” case. The people he was trying to support are victims of a provocation of the secret services. And now the same blind and antihuman force attacked Lev Ponomarev, one of the most famous human rights defenders in the country, Emilia Slabunova, Yabloko Chair, says.

The Moscow City Court will have a hearing on Ponomarev’s case today. Emilia Slabunova will come to court to support him.

Update. The court ruled out to uphold the arrest. However, the detention term was reduced from 25 days to 16 days.

Emilia Slabunova comments on the court decisions:

The court decision is a shame. This is happening on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Constitution. The police state wants us to know that any attempts to oppose it will be repressed regardless of the age, reputation or status [of the people who oppose it]. In other words, the whole society was slapped in the face.

One of the most prominent human rights defenders that stood up for the constitutional rights and freedoms of the citizens was defined in a humiliating, cynical and offensive way. All this happened because he supported teenagers who became victims of a provocation.

The person, who was concerned that young people fell victims of a police state, became a victim himself.

This arbitrary rule is a demonstration that human rights and freedoms in our country are not upheld. We can change this if we act together.

I wish Lev Ponomorev courage to go through this. We stand by him in defending rights and freedoms.