'We can see that the government, while proclaiming that it’s fighting terrorism, is in reality only trying to retain its monopoly on terror.'
Final Statements
‘I never held anti-Soviet views or convictions and never had the aim of weakening Soviet power.’
‘I demand the maximum sentence. Because I despise you. I will not live on this land or in this country with you.’
'Your Honour, I have nothing further to add. Everything was said during the closing arguments by my lawyer and me.'
'The generation that has already passed has bequeathed to us to protect the world with all our might, as the most valuable thing on Earth for all its inhabitants. And we have neglected his precepts and devalued our memory of these people and the victims of that war.'
'We are unequivocally, clearly and categorically innocent people.'
‘My conscience before the Party and the Motherland is clear.’
‘I do not at present see any reason to prove my innocence with regard to the charges brought against me, since the greater part of them are absolutely unfounded and do not correspond to reality.’
'We were sentenced to 13 to 19 years for alleged terrorist activity. In this country, people get less time for actual murder.'
‘Stop torturing my grandmother and my children.’
'At the time I served, those territories, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), were officially part of Ukraine. Russia did not deny that.'
'I will be extremely brief. I am innocent.'
'Imprisonment gave me time to think. The cleansing silence of solitary confinement, above all, helped me understand who I am and what I am here for.'
‘We are the independent journalists of this country, we have no obligation to please the president.’
‘Every statement made against me was refuted in court by the very people who had signed those statements during the preliminary investigation.’
‘Your power is based on lies and violence’
‘The only joy in my life was my work, and I took pride in it.’
'...when telling the staff at the refugee camp about my former service, I hoped to find at least common sense and, at most – justice. But now I am afraid. I am afraid, gentlemen. But not of justice. I am afraid that here, in this courtroom, I may find neither.'
'We are dealt guilty verdicts convicted for doubtings that an assault on a neighboring state is aimed at maintaining international peace and security.'
'And none of this is about the law. Nor is it about the truth. And in this sense, of course, it is much easier for me, because in 20 months I have not had to lie once. And telling the truth is easy and pleasant. Ultimately, truth and justice always prevail.'
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