Text version
A. NAVALNY: Well, right now I am at Domodedovo Airport, where about twenty minutes ago very polite border guards informed me that I am barred from leaving the Russian Federation on the basis of some letter that does not state any reasons for this ban. Well, and I, naturally, like any person, immediately checked the bailiffs' database, and I already know perfectly well that I have no unpaid fines, uh, and we keep a pretty close eye on that, but it is, generally speaking, obvious to me why this happened. Because I am flying, as a matter of fact, to Strasbourg, where there will be a rather important decision by the European Court of Human Rights. And this decision will concern whether the various arrests I have been subjected to over the past years should be recognized as politically motivated, and for the Russian authorities, I don't know, apparently, for Putin and for someone else as well, it is very important that I not be present there, and, well, obviously, in connection with this they barred me from leaving, although probably about a week and a half ago I traveled abroad and everything was fine.
F.: Tell me, and aren't they saying who this letter is from, where it came from?
A. NAVALNY: They are simply saying that, well, there is a letter. There is no indication of specific reasons why departure is prohibited. But right now we are sorting it out.
F.: Tell me, what are you going to do next in connection with this?
A. NAVALNY: What am I going to do? Well, like, I'm going to work, I'll be working. Well, it's quite unpleasant that the tickets and some hotels are now wasted, but, generally speaking, this is an expected, expected thing, an expected petty act of meanness on the part of the Russian authorities. The only response to this is to work even better for the good of our homeland.
F.: Tell me, and then who will go there in your place?
A. NAVALNY: My defender will go there. Well, as a matter of fact, even if I am not there, this decision will still, this will be the announcement of the decision, it will take place in any case. Well, that is, apparently, what matters to the Russian authorities is precisely this symbolism, that I should not be present there.
Tags