Week-ending 25 December 2020

‘I want to say thank you to those who persecuted me, as well: the police officers, Center E officers, and the FSB officers, the investigators, judges, their assistants, the prosecutors, the Presidential Executive Office, and Vladimir Putin personally. You not only helped me see how many people came to my defense. You not only made me stronger by giving me the experience of resilience and the ability to enjoy life, no matter what. You proved to the entire country that I really am a threat to you. […] I look at today’s trial without fear. It doesn’t matter whether I am free or in prison, whether I can personally continue to be a deputy or not, I know for sure that this movement won’t be stopped. And I will work to make this noticeable to every citizen of Russia, to resonate with every soul. And inspire everyone to take a step towards the future.’
-Yulia Galyamina in her final address to the court at her trial
Source: ‘”I want to say thank you to Putin personally.” Moscow lawmaker Yulia Galyamina’s final statement in court as she faces three years behind bars for protesting,’ Meduza, 18 December 2020
On 23 December 2020 a Moscow court gave Yulia Galyamina a two-year suspended sentence for repeated violation of the regulations governing public assemblies.
See:
RFE/RL, 23 December 2020: A court in Moscow has handed local opposition politician Yulia Galyamina a two-year suspended sentence for her involvement in anti-Kremlin rallies. The Tver district court on December 23 found Galyamina, an opposition member of a Moscow district council, guilty of repeatedly violating rules on public gatherings by organizing and staging unsanctioned rallies and protests in Moscow. Dozens of Galyamina’s supporters gathered in front of the court as the verdict was handed down to support the outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin. In her final statement during the trial ealier in the week, Galyamina told Putin, investigators, security officials and police that the proceedings proved they see her as a “real threat.”