RU

We demand justice for Dr Anastasia Vasilyeva, who has been detained and separated from her two minor children. Dr Anastasia Vasilyeva is a civil rights activist and head of the Russia’s Doctors Alliance trade union. 

Dr Anastasia Vasilyeva is a public figure, who is not afraid to share her opinion about the political and societal situation in the Russian Federation because it directly impacts the state of the health care system.

On 23 January 2021 she went to a protest rally against the illegal arrest and detention of Alexei Navalny. On 28 January 2021 at 3 АМ Anastasia was detained by authorities. Anastasia is a subject to a group criminal case, including other prominent activists and close associates of Alexei Navalny. Many defendants of this case are employees of the Anti-Corruption Foundation. Mr Navalny established the Anti-Corruption Foundation in 2011 to investigate corruption cases
and initiate reforms against such practices.

According to the prosecution, the participation of Anastasia in the peace rally is an is breach under Art. 236.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation «Violation of sanitary and epidemiological rules: it is considered a violation if it resulted in crowd disease or poisoning of people or posed a threat of such consequences», committed during a protest rally against the illegal arrest and detention of Alexei Navalny. Such an accusation is absurd and unlawful. On 22 January 2020, a day before a peaceful rally, the Moscow City mayor has lifted COVID-19 restrictions related to public events. 

On29 January 2021, the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow satisfied a prosecution request for a house arrest for Anastasia Vasilyeva and isolating her from society until 23 March 2021.

But she is not only being isolated from society. She is being separated from her minor children, which is contrary to Russian and International Law. Anastasia lived with her children in a rented apartment, but her house arrest is served in a flat, that she partially owns with her former husband, and no she no longer lives there.

According to Art. 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation, clause 1., House arrest allows her to be in the apartment where she lives legally with the imposition of bans and the exercise of control over it. Anastasia has an official rented apartment, where her children live; therefore, according to the Law, she can serve house arrest in this apartment, and not in the one where the court isolated her. 

Thus, children's right to live and be raised in a family is protected in part 2 of Art. 54 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation, was breached. Furthermore, the Article of Act allows other forms of prevention, such as personal
recognizance. Dr Vasilyeva has never been arrested or founded guilty of any offences; she is a loving single mother, honorable woman, and a renowned doctor, who has no intention to hide from justice.

But as it seems, justice in Russia is no longer follows the letter and spirit of the Law. There is a political aspect to this case as Russia’s Doctors Alliance trade union is an independent organisation that protects citizens, their right for life and health. The courts' decision caused the medical community's indignation as well as resonance among patients and other citizens.

Moreover, the applied decision violates the civil rights of the mother of minor children. 

Considering the above, we, who have signed the Petition, demand:
 1. Change the place of serving the house arrest to the address where Anastasia's children live and study as soon as possible. According to the court order, this requires only the written permission of the investigator.
 2. Close the fabricated criminal case against Anastasia Vasilyeva and end criminal prosecution against her.

We believe the judgement is unjust and fabricated, undermining the basis of human rights and the Russian Constitution. Dr Vasilyeva has devoted her life to support medical society and patients. Today she needs our protection.