"We are to blame for what is happening." Sentence to Dmitry Skurikhin

The court sentenced Dmitry Skurikhin, an entrepreneur and activist from the Leningrad region, to 1.5 years in a general regime colony for repeated “discrediting” of the Russian Armed Forces due to a post with a photo “Sorry, Ukraine.” Skurikhin did not admit his guilt. Sever.Realii tells how the trial of a businessman from the Leningrad region, who has been opposing the war in Ukraine since 2014, took place.

– I fully and completely support the idea of ​​protecting the interests of the Russian Federation, the interests of our citizens, international peace and security with the help of our armed forces. But what does the madness that is happening in Ukraine have to do with the idea of ​​protecting our interests? Did Russian bombs fall on our cities before the start of the “special military operation” ( SVO, special military operation, special operation - this is how the Russian authorities call military actions in Ukraine, demanding not to call what is happening a war. - SR )? This hasn't happened since 1944. Was it possible that before the start of the “special military operation,” the aggressive NATO bloc, in the opinion of our authorities, stood 100 kilometers from the Northern capital? Now here he is across the bay, just a stone's throw away. Was it possible before the start of the “special military operation” that hundreds and hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens left our country, instead of working for the good of our homeland and their own good with us? Or are these the goals of a “special military operation”: to ensure that people, our fellow citizens, citizens of Ukraine, die? According to the UN, 500 children have died there to date. If these were the goals of our “special military operation,” then, excuse me, this is just some kind of betrayal on the part of those who organized it all. If there were no such goals, then, Your Honor, it is precisely the conduct of this “special military operation” that is the real discredit of this idea. Ideas to protect the interests of our homeland and our fellow citizens,” said Dmitry Skurikhin in his last word during the court hearing on August 3.

A criminal case was opened against Dmitry Skurikhin because of two posters against the war in Ukraine and posts on social networks.

In August 2022, Skurikhin hung a poster with the text “Russian society, wake up. Stop the crazy, deceitful, fratricidal war” and later published two photographs with the same poster on his Telegram channel.

“The purpose of this, like all banners, was to attract the attention of our society and to encourage my fellow citizens to join this idea, and not the opposite one. I did this deliberately so that the maximum number of people would see it and read this slogan,” Skurikhin said in court.

Before his arrest and criminal case for “repeated discrediting of the RF Armed Forces,” Skurikhin, the owner of a small store in the village of Russko-Vysotskoye in the Leningrad Region, regularly painted the facade of his store with slogans against the war in Ukraine.

The first criminal case for “discrediting” the Russian army against Skurikhin was opened in September 2022 because of the poster “Go to hell with your grave,” which the activist also placed on his store after the announcement of partial mobilization. After the initiation of the case, he was not taken into custody, but was banned from certain actions.

At the end of June 2023, unknown persons painted over the facade of the store at night, on which Skurikhin had left anti-war slogans and the names of Ukrainian cities.

Skurikhin made another poster with the phrase “Sorry, Ukraine” for the anniversary of the start of Russian military operations in Ukraine. Skurikhin's daughter Ulyana took a photograph of her father kneeling with this poster outside his store and sent the photo to journalists.

“This was a continuation of the propaganda work that I have been doing for a long time. This was the year that this “special military operation” began. I decided that I could not pass by a significant date without reacting to it in any way. I made this poster. I asked Ulyana (Skurikhin’s daughter – SR) to take a shot like this, and they sent it to the media. I fully and completely support the use of the armed forces to protect the interests of citizens, but what does the bloody adventure that is happening in Ukraine have to do with this? None. Therefore, without having the goal of discrediting the use of armed forces, I took such an action. This announcement of mine was not made for Ukrainians. It is directed for my fellow citizens, for Russians. So that, after reading this, they understand me and share my point of view,” Skurikhin explained his actions to the prosecutor and the judge. - We have wine. We are to blame for what is happening. And for this we must ask for forgiveness. I asked. I suggest you ask too. The fault lies in what is happening now in Ukraine.

Skurikhin explained in court that the posters with which he was photographed are the “realization of freedom of speech,” the opportunity to “call black black and white white.”

– Now we have such laws in our country. I must live by these laws, and you must judge by these laws. I believe that these laws are contrary to the Constitution. These laws give law enforcement the right to challenge me for my honest and heartfelt opinions. I still think my poster is relevant. I am ready to prove everything that is written there. “I think that life will confirm that I’m right,” Skurikhin said.

After the photo with the “Sorry, Ukraine” poster, Skurikhin and his family went to his parents to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Police officers arrived there, at the house of Dmitry’s parents, Skurikhin’s wife Tatyana told Sever.Realii.

The police warned Dmitry that information about the action “had reached the top,” but at that time they had not yet decided how to punish Skurikhin. Throughout the day, the family was followed by a Mercedes with police officers. The same car was on duty near Skurikhin’s house all night, and the next morning the entrepreneur was officially detained and sent to court, which initially sent the businessman to a pre-trial detention center on a new criminal case. Only in April, two months after his arrest, Skurikhin was transferred to house arrest.

The prosecution demanded 2.5 years in prison for Skurikhin, pointing to an aggravating circumstance: the “crimes” were committed during an armed conflict. Skurikhin did not agree with this statement. The entrepreneur’s lawyer, Dmitry Gerasimov, noted that for the first time he was faced with the fact that the aggravating circumstance indicated the conduct of military actions.

– At that time, and even now, no armed conflicts occurred in the Leningrad region, as in our entire country. If Mr. Prosecutor would have said six months ago that there was an armed conflict going on now, then, I think, he would have simply instantly fallen from office and a criminal case would have been brought against him for discrediting the Armed Forces. Because then people were simply imprisoned for the word “war” in relation to a “special military operation,” Skurikhin answered the prosecutor.

Making his final statement, the entrepreneur told the court that it was unlikely that he would now continue to draw anti-war posters, but would not give up his social and political activities.

– Your Honor, when I ask myself the question: will I continue to engage in such activities in this vein, then probably not. Will I continue to engage in my social and political activities? Yes, because this is my life. This is how I see the interests of my voters, my fellow citizens and fellow villagers (in 2009, Skurikhin was a deputy of the local village council. - SR ). I am an aspiring politician, at the local level for now. I'm a good, normal person. And if society and voters support me, then I have every chance to grow into a normal, good politician, and I will not give them up.

The court sentenced Skurikhin to 1.5 years in a general regime colony; the time that Skurikhin served under house arrest will be counted against the sentence. The court decided to burn the posters that led to the case.