"I knew that someday all this would end"

Interview with the head of the Karelian "Memorial" Yuri Dmitriev. He spent thirteen months in a pre -trial detention center

Update. On April 5, the court acquitted Yuri Dmitriev in the case of the manufacture of children's pornography.

On January 27, the head of the Karelian branch of the Memorial of the Memorial, Yuri Dmitriev, came out of a pre -trial detention center on a wizard about a wonness. He spent thirteen months in a pre -trial detention center on charges of making pornographic materials, depraved actions and illegal storage of firearms. Dmitriev does not plead guilty. The trial of it will continue - all the same in closed mode. At the request of Medusa, the journalist of the 7 × 7 publication Anna Yarovaya asked Yuri Dmitrieva several questions.

The case of Yuri Dmitriev

Yuri Dmitriev - local historian, historian and human rights activist. It is known, in particular, by the fact that in 1997 he found the mass burial of the victims of the 1930s repression in the Karelian place of Sanddormokh-there are more than 9.5 thousand people on an area of ​​10 hectares. In December 2016, he was arrested. According to the prosecution, from 2008 to 2015, Dmitriev took pictures of the gay daughter (now she is 12 years old) without clothes - for the manufacture of pornography; Depraved actions, according to the prosecution, consisted in photographing itself. Dmitriev’s defense said: he took pictures so that social services could make sure: there are no bruises on the child’s body. The trial of Dmitriev began in June and took place closed. In December 2017, the examination did not find pornography in photographs of pornography, and the court decided to release Dmitriev on a subscription about the lower place of January 28, 2018 (Dmitriev was released a day earlier than –27). In the "Memorial" Yuri Dmitriev was recognized as political prisoner. The musician Boris Grebenshchikov, director Andrei Zvyagintsev, poet Lev Rubinstein, writers Dmitry Bykov and Lyudmila Ulitskaya were his support.

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It is impossible to comment in essence before the sentencing to Yuri Dmitriev - including because the process is held closed.

- You entered home, what feelings?

- As if he had returned from the expedition. Just not quite ordinary.

- And how did you feel in jail? Still, such a resonance business.

- So, let's go without an earnings. Not a resonant matter, but vile articles, putting it mildly - that’s the main thing. They are not very respected and in the prison community too.

But on the other hand, I was probably lucky that I was not closed with the “first-offers”, that is, with those who had just got to prison, in the so-called PFRSI [a room functioning in the regime of the investigative insulator]. And there were already more experienced people with me, they understand that everything happens in life, it is not worth it to believe the word for paperwork, but you must first ask the person, why he drove. They asked what, what, how. As it was, so answered.

-That is, there was no special attitude because of the articles to you?

-No, no, absolutely. When I was placed in a Butyrka in Moscow, an operational worker came running - in my [accompanying documents] accompanying, it was written to put in a single camera. Apparently, so as not to chatting with a tongue. But he came running and said: "All single are busy, will you go to general?" I say: "If not too big, then I will go."

Well, of course, the first ten minutes after I went into the camera, they asked me by what articles. I said. And to me in response: "Something in life, man, not everything is smooth with you." I say: “Everything is smooth. If anything, [ask] Contact where you need to. ” Coped. Everything is fine.

- Did you write from the will in jail?

- Yes.

- How many letters came, how many answers were written?

- Well, I tried to answer, if not everyone, then at least those who sent the envelope. [Daughter] Katerina also transmitted envelopes, but when they ended, it was difficult - many letters. I took them with me, to whom I did not have time [reply], in my letter it was noted when it was received. Therefore, to whom I did not have time to answer-it will be a little later. I will answer, I will not forget anyone, I will say thanks to everyone. Indeed, this is very cool when letters come. My, let's say, the comrades-suicide bombers were kindly envious.

- How did you react when you learned a month ago that on January 28 you will be released?

“I somehow don’t get used to this state of lack of freedom-it’s impossible to get used to it ... But I am a sufficiently patient person.” I knew that someday all this would end. It will end on January 28 - good. Or it ends, for example, March 3 is also good. Something like that. In Serbian ( in January 2018, by a court decision, Dmitriev was sent to a psychiatric examination to the Serbian Institute-approx. Medusa )? Well, I did not jump to the ceiling with joy. Well, you want - take it. Fucking - well, they brought it back.

- Now you will go to court directly from the house.

- Do not walk, but ride. (Turning to your daughter) Only then you will drive the car [from the court home], if that ...

Anna Yarovaya, Petrozavodsk