Aleksandr Skobov used his appeal against the verdict to make a public statement. He called on Europe to enter the war with the Russian Federation.
The Supreme Court upheld the sentence against dissident Aleksandr Skobov. In his closing statement, he called on European countries for the military “defeat of the Russian Federation.”
A year ago, a military court sentenced Skobov to 16 years in prison on charges of justifying terrorism and participating in a terrorist organization—for his post regarding the explosion on the Crimean Bridge and for his membership in the Free Russia Forum.
According to a RusNews correspondent, the dissident spoke via video call from the “Yelets Krytka” prison in the Lipetsk region. During his closing statement, he stated that he only supports his lawyer’s appeal so that he could “call on European countries to enter the war and defeat the Russian Federation” in court.
“Death to the Russian fascist occupiers! Death to Putin, the new Hitler!” – At these words, Judge Alexander Zamashnyuk interrupted Skobov’s speech.
Due to the interruption of the video call in the courtroom, Skobov’s speech was initially not audible during the hearing:
… dirty Russian aggression. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes! Death to the Russian-fascist occupiers! Death to Putin, the new Hitler!
Judge: Your statements violate the laws of the Russian Federation.
Skobov: The Russian Federation itself violates all laws by invading another country.
Judge: Do you have any admissible statements?
Skobov: All of my statements will be unacceptable to you. The Russian Federation is my armed adversary.
Judge: Do you support your defense counsel’s appeal?
Skobov: I only supported this appeal so that I could testify in court and call upon European countries to enter the war and defeat the Russian Federation!
WRITE A LETTER
Скобов Александр Валерьевич, 1957 г.р. 399783, Липецкая область, г. Елец, ул. Пролетарская д. 1Б, Т-2 Елецкая крытка
