Freedoms Restricted for Navalny’s Doctor
A court has imposed restrictions on Vasiliyeva’s freedoms. (Анастасия Васильева / Facebook)
The Preobrazhensky Court of Moscow sentenced Anastasia Vasiliyeva to one year of restricted freedoms on October 14 for organizing a protest on behalf of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The court found the protest in violation of COVID-19 restrictions. The terms of the sentence forbid her from leaving Moscow, attending mass gatherings, or leaving her house between 10 PM and 6 AM.
Vasiliyeva heads the Alliance of Doctors, an independent trade union representing doctors and health professionals in Russia. The union had previously allied with Navalny, calling for the opposition figure to receive treatment from a doctor of his choice while in prison. These calls catalyzed the basis for the demonstration that Vasiliyeva promoted, which the court found to be illegal and irresponsible.
The Russian government designated the Alliance of Doctors as a Foreign Agent, both on account of Vasiliyeva’s connection to Navalny, and for its criticism of Russian domestic violence laws.
The sentence comes almost one month after Vasiliyeva issued a statement distancing herself and her organization from Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), saying that the FBK took advantage of the Doctor’s Alliance for their own gain. The sincerity of this statement has come into question since it came one day before Russian Duma elections. Ivan Zhdanov, a prominent Navalny supporter, said “it is clear who is behind this statement and what their purpose is.”
Vasiliyeva’s recent punishment marks the latest in a crackdown on Navalny’s allies. Kira Yarmysh, the opposition leader’s spokeswoman, left Russia after a court imposed 18 months of restrictions for breaking COVID-19 rules. Authorities also found Lyubov Sobol, who has close associations with Navalny, in violation of COVID-19 restrictions. She has since fled the country.
Russian authorities have used COVID-19 restrictions as a pretext to crack down on opposition figures. Journalists and activists have been arrested for breaking rules throughout the country. Vasiliyeva herself was arrested at the April demonstration for bringing personal protective equipment to medics. Her organization’s role in exposing fabricated statistics in the early stages of the pandemic also drew the ire of the authorities.
Vasiliyeva’s legal team has promised to appeal the verdict, claiming that the ruling is politically motivated. Navalny himself remains in prison, serving a 2½ year sentence.