On Furgal’s birthday, Khabarovsk was plastered with leaflets in his support

In Khabarovsk on February 12, the second action in two days was held in support of the former governor of the Khabarovsk Territory, Sergei Furgal, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison last week.

As reported by “7×7-Horizontal Russia”, about 70 people came to the rally demanding the release of Furgal. They chanted: “I, we, he, she – the whole country is for Furgal!”, “Freedom for Furgal!” and “Furgala – for president!”. The police did not intervene, and no arrests were reported.

The action was timed to the former governor’s birthday. Furgal turned 53 on February 12.

Also on Sunday, many street leaflets appeared in Khabarovsk in support of Furgal. Portraits of the former governor have been pasted over by unknown people on the pillars – reports the correspondent of Radio Svoboda. In a total of 300 meters, eyewitnesses counted 14 pasted leaflets with portraits of Furgal.

The day before, on February 11, an action in his support was also held in the city with the participation of dozens of people.

On Sunday, smaller-scale actions were also held in Novosibirsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Moscow.

• On February 10, 2023, the Moscow Regional Court in Lyubertsy sentenced Sergei Furgal to 22 years in prison. Jurors found him guilty of organizing two contract murders and one attempt on businessmen in the mid-2000s. The former governor did not admit his guilt. The defense and supporters of the former governor believe that there is no evidence in the case, and that Furgal’s criminal prosecution is “political revenge” after his unexpected victory in the 2018 elections, when he beat United Russia representative Vyacheslav Shport, gaining 2.5 times more votes. After the arrest of Furgal in 2020, mass protests took place in Khabarovsk.