The Final Statement
‘If a person speaks out against war, they certainly should not be in prison. Every sensible person is always against war.’
Freedom of speech for everyone and for each individual–that’s what we believed in, right? And we believed it. But now we think we were deceived. Because for my words, for my opinion, I have been living and being held in solitary confinement for over a year now. That is to say, there are no regular cells here–only solitary confinement at the pre-trial detention centre, so I am being held in an isolation cell. Not because I have violated any rules.
In this regard, I ask you to make allowances for the fact that I may not be expressing my thoughts very clearly. Nevertheless, I understand perfectly well what is being done in my country and what is happening there.
Judge: ‘All right, let’s not talk about what’s happening in the country. Please stick to the matter at hand.’
But for me, that is precisely the matter at hand. For me, the most important thing is that a person living in a free country must be free to express their opinions and views. And they certainly should not be imprisoned for doing so. That is what matters most to me. And all the more so if that person speaks out against war–they certainly should not be in prison.
Every sensible person is always against war. That’s all.
24 May 2023
Tver Regional Court, Tver, Russia
Source: SOTA
More about the case: Memorial
Photo: Social media