The Ministry of Internal Affairs found “signs of a crime” in Kasparov’s actions

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia found “signs of a crime” in the actions of opposition politicians living abroad, co-founders of the Free Russia Forum, Garry Kasparov and Ivan Tyutrin, in connection with holding an auction in support of Russian volunteers fighting on the side of Ukraine. This is stated in the information message received by Radio Svoboda from the Forum of Free Russia. TASS also informs about the results of the inspection with reference to its initiator – State Duma deputy Andrey Alshevsky.

In the reply, the deputy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicated that the actions of Kasparov and Tyutryn contained signs of a crime under the article on participation in the activities of a so-called undesirable organization. The Forum of Free Russia was previously recognized as such an organization. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the investigation materials were sent to the Investigative Committee “for making a decision in accordance with the current legislation.”

The auction was held in Vilnius on November 9. The auction lots featured “artifacts of the war, items provided by the volunteer battalions themselves, works of Ukrainian and Russian artists.” According to the organizers, more than 50,000 euros were collected, which were used to buy equipment and uniforms for Russian volunteers fighting on the side of Ukraine.
The Free Russia Forum was created in March 2016 by Tyutrin and Kasparov. The organization held conferences in Vilnius and other cities. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it holds so-called anti-war conferences.

Garry Kasparov is a former world chess champion, an active participant in the opposition movement in Russia. In 2013, he left Russia. Actively speaks out, including in the American media, against the Russian authorities, in support of Ukraine.