The court in Chelyabinsk acquitted the participants of the “He is not our king” protest, for whom they asked for 3.5 years in prison

The Central District Court of Chelyabinsk acquitted Oksana Eremina and Yury Vashurin in a criminal case of hooliganism of participants in the 2018 action “He is not our king”. This was reported by the "Apology of Protest" in its Telegram channel.

They were accused of hooliganism by prior agreement and for political reasons (part 2 of article 213 of the Criminal Code). Earlier, the investigation requested for both defendants 3 years and 6 months in prison. The court acquitted Eremina and Vashurin, and also left them the right to rehabilitation.

As in many Russian cities, on May 5, 2018, residents of Chelyabinsk took to the streets against the inauguration of Vladimir Putin for another term. Having gathered, the Chelyabinsk residents went to the Aloe Pole park, but the police blocked their way. Then the protesters went through the cordon.

From the indictment, it followed that Eremina and Vashurin had "a criminal intent to commit hooliganism, that is, a gross violation of public order, expressing clear disrespect for society, committed for reasons of political hatred and enmity." The prosecution mentions "anti-government" posters and slogans of the protesters: "Putin is a thief", "Putin, go away", "Down with the tsar".

According to the text of the accusation, when Vashurin arrived at the place of the action at the appointed time, he "had a criminal intent to commit hooliganism." Namely, when he saw Eremina ignoring the police officers “gripping with each other at the elbows, thereby creating a living cordon” and starting “active movement forward”, Vashurin and “persons unidentified during the preliminary investigation” grappled with each other in the elbows, forming a chain. Thus, the participants of the action were able to cross the intersection of Sverdlovsky Prospekt and Lenin Prospekt and, accordingly, reach the end point of the procession. All this was done "boldly, cynically, wanting to resist the police."

Vashurin and Eremina were charged in July 2019, a year after the action.

• Participants of the action "He is not our tsar" opposed the new presidential term of Vladimir Putin. The all-Russian protest was initiated by opposition politician Alexei Navalny. According to OVD-Info, on May 5, 2018, at least 185 people were detained in Chelyabinsk, and at least 1,600 across Russia.