the defendant in the Vesny case is under pressure

The defendant in the case against the former activists of the “Vesna” movement Valentyn Khoroshenin is being pressured in the pretrial detention center, human rights activists from the “First Department” reported.

According to them, pressure is exerted by other inmates who threaten to beat Khoroshenin, prevent him from sleeping on his bed and sit at the table. The former Vesna activist was transferred to another cell. Also, human rights activists reported that Khoroshenyn does not feel well, but does not receive medical help.

“He has a headache, a runny nose, fever, chest pain, and his whole body is breaking down, but he is not getting the necessary help. He fears for his life,” says the statement of the First Department.

On June 6, several Russian cities conducted mass searches of former supporters of the Vesna movement, as well as activists who never had anything to do with this movement. As a result, a criminal case was opened against former members of the “Vesna” movement Yevgeny Zateev, Valentin Khoroshenin, a member of the St. Petersburg TIK Vasiliy Neustroev and an activist from Tver Yan Ksenzhepolsky on several articles, among which were articles on the organization of an extremist community, the rehabilitation of Nazism and the spread of military “fakes”. . They were arrested.

• Youth movement “Vesna” was founded in 2013 in St. Petersburg, then it appeared in other regions of Russia. Since the beginning of the war with Ukraine, members of the movement actively participated in anti-war demonstrations.
• At the beginning of May 2022, “Vesna” reported that a case was initiated against the leaders and participants of the movement for the creation of a non-profit organization that encroaches on the personality and rights of citizens. According to the investigation, the participants of the movement posted on the Internet calls to participate in anti-war protests from February 25 to 27, 2022, which were not coordinated with the authorities, thereby encouraging citizens to commit illegal actions. In total, eight people are involved in the case.
• In May 2022 in In St. Petersburg and Veliky Novgorod, the police conducted searches of former and current supporters of the Vesna movement and female activists who announced an anti-war action during the “Immortal Regiment” march in honor of Victory Day.
• After the anti-mobilization rallies in 2022, the prosecutor’s office demanded that “Vesna” be recognized as an extremist organization. According to Russian legislation, donations to such structures and cooperation with them entail administrative and criminal prosecution. In December, the court granted the prosecutor’s request. On May 17, 2023, the court in St. Petersburg finally recognized the “Vesna” movement as extremist.