The final statement
«The law that enables law enforcement agencies to charge me for an honestly expressed opinion contradicts our country’s Constitution. I am confident that my poster is relevant. I am prepared to substantiate any description applied to the so-called ‘special military operation.’ I believe life will prove me right.»
Your honor, I am being accused of discrediting the use of armed forces for defending the citizens and interests of our motherland. You know that I fully support the idea of protecting the interests of Russia, the interests of our citizens, international peace, and security using our armed forces. After all, this is why they exist.
But how does the madness happening in Ukraine relate to the idea of protecting our interests? Before the beginning of the so-called ‘special military operation, were bombs falling on our cities? That hadn’t happened since 1945. Before the beginning of the so-called ‘special military operation’, was NATO—considered aggressive by our authorities—stationed just 100 kilometers from St. Petersburg? Now the fleet [of NATO] is within hand’s reach just across the gulf. Before the beginning of the so-called ‘special military operation’, was it that hundreds and hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens were fleeing the country instead of working for the good of the motherland?
As of now, UN data says that around 500 kids have died there. We accept the jurisdiction of the UN, hence, this data can be said out loud. If these were the goals of our so-called ‘special military operation’, then forgive me, this is nothing short of betrayal from the ones who started it.
If these were not our goals, your honor, then the conduct of the so-called ‘special military operation’ is exactly the discreditation of this idea—the idea of protecting the interests of our motherland and fellow citizens. This is the most evident thing.
Your honor! I believe that freedom of speech is the key aspect in preservation and prosperity of any society and country. Without the freedom of speech, without the ability of citizens to express their opinion, without fear of prosecution, a country is doomed to collapse. Look, there was no freedom of speech in Tsarist Russia—where is Tsarist Russia now? It is gone. There was no freedom of speech in Hitler’s Germany—where is it now? It is gone too. In its place is a thriving country with a robust economy and a level of freedom of speech we can only dream of. There was no freedom of speech in Stalin’s USSR—where is the USSR now? There is none, it is gone.
Your Honor, I am a civic and political activist. In 2009, I was elected as a municipal deputy. Although I am no longer officially in office, I continue to represent the interests of my constituents. I have done a great deal for my village, even as an ordinary activist. I am convinced that a well-informed, motivated, and free society can overcome any challenge it faces. But for this, freedom of speech is essential.
Without the freedom of speech I am not allowed to say that children aren’t being well fed in Russko-Vysotskaya school—otherwise I will be facing defamation charges against the school. If I say that there are no doctors in the Russko-Vysotskaya clinic, what will I get without the freedom of speech? I’d be accused of insulting the health committee. It is impossible to solve any problem without freedom of speech. I am a supporter of this idea through and through. Freedom of speech is the foundation of the existence of our country, its prosperity. By putting up this poster [‘To hell with your mobilization; for running the country like this, that’s exactly where you belong’], I am simply exercising my freedom of speech—my freedom to call black ‘black’ and white ‘white.’
The discussion of this poster should be happening not in the court but live on air, where opposite of me instead of a prosecutor is a representative of the authorities who initiated this so-called ‘special military operation. And the judge should not be you, your honor, but the society, who will look at the discussion of this problem from both sides, will weigh the arguments and decide whether we’re heading in the right direction. Are we not, full speed ahead, heading for disaster?
I understand that such laws are currently in place in our country. I must live by these laws, and you must judge according to them. HOwever, the law that enables law enforcement agencies to charge me for an honestly expressed opinion contradicts our country’s Constitution. I am confident that my poster is relevant. I am prepared to substantiate any description applied to the so-called ‘special military operation.’ I believe life will prove me right.
Your Honor! The prosecutor has stated that he sees an aggravating circumstance in my actions, claiming that I committed a crime during a time of armed conflict. However, at the time I put up the poster, and even now, there have been no armed conflicts in Leningrad Oblast, nor in our country. If Mr. Prosecutor had said a year ago that there was currently an armed conflict, he would have been immediately removed from his position, because back then, people were imprisoned for using the word ‘war.’
I believe that the point the prosecutor is referencing is not applicable to my case.
Your honor, when I ask myself whether I will continue this activity, I respond that, in this context, probably no. Will I continue my civic and political engagement? Yes, this is my life. I see it as representing the interests of my constituents, fellow citizens, and villagers. I am a budding politician. Currently, at the local level but I believe I have great potential. I am a good, decent person, and if society and the voters support me, I have every chance of growing into a capable political figure. That is how I envision my life, and I have no intention of giving that up.”
Your honor, concluding my final statement, I firstly insist on the fact that my poster does not discredit the ideas of defending the interests of the Russian Federation through our armed forces. Secondly, I think that there are no aggravating circumstances in my actions, such as committing a crime during a time of armed conflict, as there is no armed conflict occurring in Leningrad Oblast, nor anywhere else in our country.
Insisting on this, your honor, I ask you to dismiss the charges from the prosecution and acquit me due to the absence of a crime. I also request that the Investigative Committee return the items seized during the two searches: my computers, phones, personal belongings, books, money, and my posters. All of these are precious to me and, as I told the Investigative Committee employees, they have nothing to do with the imaginary violations of our country’s laws that they have alleged.
That’s it, your honor, I am finished, thank you. I ask you to deliver your decision.
Lomonosovsky District Court, St. Petersburg, Russia
August 3, 2023
Source: transcript of audio from the court — https://paperpaper.io/svoboda-slova-zalog-sushestvovaniya/
More about the case: https://memopzk.org/figurant/skurihin-dmitrij-nikolaevich/
Фото: Dmitry Skurikhin/Facebook
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