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Ilya Yashin is one of the most prominent Russian opposition politicians. He was a member of the Yabloko Democratic Party; then, together with Boris Nemtsov, he founded the Solidarnost Democratic Movement. After Nemtsov, his colleague and friend, was assassinated, Yashin regularly criticized Ramzan Kadyrov, the oppressive head of Chechen Republic, whose close circles were suspectedly involved in this crime. In 2017 Ilya was elected as a deputy for the Krasnoselsky municipal district in Moscow. 

On July 12, Yashin faced criminal charges for spreading “fake” information about the Russian armed forces with the motive of political hatred (article 207.3, part 2 of the Russian Сriminal Code). Charges were based on Yashin’s Youtube stream about the murders of the civilians perpetrated by the Russian army in Bucha. 

On July 13, the court put Yashin in a pre-trial detention facility at least until September 12. Before that, he was held in a detention center for 15 days under administrative charges for failure to obey police orders: the politician allegedly swore at police officers during his evening stroll at the park. 

Ilya Yashin is facing up to 10 years of prison for his words: for daring to call a war a war and for telling people the truth about what is going on. The law under which Yashin is charged is blatantly anti-constitutional: it explicitly violates the freedom of speech, of thought, and of search of information granted by the Constitution of Russia. Moreover, to speak openly on political matters is a politician’s immediate job and right.

There is no doubt that the case against Yashin is politically motivated. The government has started a repression campaign against anyone who dares speak up against its actions, especially against the war, in order to oppress the civil society and  make it silent and obedient. There is no other explanation, no other basis for this case. 

We demand to free Ilya, to immediately drop the charges against him, and to bring to justice everyone implicated in trumping up this case. Free political prisoners!