This is what the trembling knees of Putin’s rotten system look like. It may try to appear dependable and solid as a rock, but everyone—including, above all, itself—knows the truth: it lacks a foundation, namely sufficient public support. Hence these hysterical arrests.
On Friday, I learned from journalists in court that my lawyers’ homes and offices were being searched. On Monday, again from journalists in court, I learned that my attorney Vadim Kobzev had been arrested, along with two attorneys I last worked with more than a year ago—Alexei Liptser and Igor Sergunin. As for my lawyers Olga Mikhailova and Alexander Fedulov, the court itself informed me that their “phones are switched off.”
I want to say that I am proud of my defense team—everyone who has been and is part of it. They are outstanding professionals. They did their job by representing their client’s interests in accordance with the law and the highest standards of legal ethics. They demolished every new fabricated charge brought against me. They also did enormous work challenging my prison conditions—around 300 court hearings in a single year.
Accusing them of passing along “extremist messages” is simply absurd. For a very long time now, all of their notes have been photographed both on entry and on exit. Any documents going from me to them and back are censored for three days. The room for meetings with lawyers is equipped with video and audio recording.
The persecution of my lawyers is brazenly unlawful and has two aims:
1) to punish them for doing an excellent job; 2) to intimidate society, and above all those lawyers who dare to defend political prisoners.
I want to express my gratitude and support to Vadim, Alexei, Igor, Olga, and Alexander. I also want to support their families and wish them strength: your loved ones are true heroes and a credit to their profession.
I call on the legal community, of which I too was once a part, not to remain silent and to stand united in defense of your colleagues. You can plainly see that they are being persecuted for helping a client, and that in targeting them, the authorities are destroying what remains of the right to a defense.
As for what the authorities call my “extremist activity,” let me say this: I do not need secrets, codes, or messengers carrying notes for any of it.
My actions are based on my right as a citizen of Russia, as guaranteed by the Constitution. No ideology may be established in our country as a state ideology. And everyone is free to express their political views.
I express mine. I am against Vladimir Putin. I believe he seized power unlawfully. I believe he is a usurper and corrupt. His entire entourage consists not of statesmen, but of hired thugs. Crooks and thieves.
I have always called on citizens, and I do so now: constantly, always, at every opportunity, to act, to campaign, and to vote against Putin and his “United Russia” party.
This is not extremism, but a lawful struggle against unlawful power.