This is what the trembling knees of Putin’s rotten system look like. It may try to appear reliable and solid as a rock, but everyone—including, above all, itself—knows perfectly well that it lacks a foundation: 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 other lawyers 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 later informed me that their “phones are switched off.” I want to say that I am proud of my defense team—everyone who has been part of it, and everyone who still is. They are outstanding professionals. They did their job, representing their client’s interests in accordance with the law and the highest standards of legal ethics. They tore apart every new fabricated charge brought against me. They also did enormous work challenging my prison conditions—around 300 court hearings over the course of a year. To accuse them of passing along “extremist messages” is simply absurd. For a very long time now, all of their notes have been photographed both on the way in and on the way out. 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 flagrantly unlawful and has two aims: 1) to punish them for doing an excellent job; 2) to intimidate society, and above all 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 see perfectly well that they are being persecuted for helping their 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”: you know, I do not need secrets, codes, or messengers carrying notes for that. (Сontinues in the carousel) ------- My activity is grounded in my constitutional rights as a Russian citizen. In our country, no particular ideology can be imposed as the state ideology. Furthermore, every individual has the freedom to openly express their political beliefs. I express mine. I am against Vladimir Putin. I believe that he has illegally seized power. I believe that he is a usurper and a corruptor. He is an illegitimate ruler and a promoter of corruption. I do not consider his entire team to be true statesmen, but rather accomplices to criminals. They are swindlers and thieves. I have consistently encouraged citizens in the past, and I am continuing to do so now: whenever an opportunity arises, it is crucial to take action, express discontent, and vote against Putin and his United Russia party. This is not extremism, but a legitimate fight against an illegitimate government.