'I would also like to draw attention to the fact that, as a result of my actions, no citizen of the Russian Federation, including military personnel, was harmed. Nor was any civilian object damaged.'
Final Statements
‘I have never been an enemy of the Soviet government.’
'I saw bags over people’s heads, wires attached to different parts of their bodies, broken ribs, damaged kidneys, people beaten to death, hunger lasting for more than a year, no medical assistance whatsoever, people rotting, legs, arms, lice, bedbugs, two showers in a year–and after those showers we left dirtier than when we arrived, and beaten as well.'
'This country does not belong only to the 5 or 10 children of oligarchs, but to the millions of other children as well. Every child in Azerbaijan has the right to live in prosperity, justice, and dignity.'
‘And I understood that I might pay for five minutes of freedom on Red Square with years of imprisonment.’
'All this year, I feel like a victim of the greatest absurdity I have ever encountered in life and art.'
‘The only joy in my life was my work, and I took pride in it.’
'All the civilian personnel at the military unit where I worked are in Ukraine. Thank God, they all underwent screening: two people were detained, but all of them were later released. When I told the investigator about this, he shook his head and said, 'You know, bro, there are no innocent people. If you're still free, it's not because of your own merit–it's because we haven't done our job well enough.''
'I have carried out my journalistic work within the law and in accordance with journalistic standards.'
'You’re not trying a terrorist in this court. You’re trying a musician, an artist, a pacifist.'
'I also declare before the court that I am innocent of both espionage and nationalism.'
“I'm not going to tell you, because I know one thing: until your life gets into such a situation, no matter how I describe it, no matter how beautifully I speak about it using different slogans, it won't reach anyone”.
'Your Honour, I have nothing further to add. Everything was said during the closing arguments by my lawyer and me.'
‘It’s as though we’re in a “Black Mirror” episode right now. Honestly, it all suggests my case is politically motivated.’
'I am not a foreign agent. I am a citizen of Russia.'
‘You may put me in prison, send me to a camp, but I am certain that no honest person will condemn me.’
'I devoted my entire gift as a writer to the working people...'
'We had no intention of committing any crimes.'
'Unfortunately, a major mistake has been made…'
‘The final word will belong to the truth and to those who spread it.’
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