Two opposition candidates detained in Moscow in one day
In Moscow, two candidates from the opposition Yabloko party running in single-mandate constituencies for the Russian State Duma elections, Anna Shatunovskaya-Byurno and Grigoriy Grishin, have been detained. They have been charged with administrative offenses related to the "demonstration of extremist symbols." If the court finds them guilty, the candidates could be disqualified from the election campaign.
It has been reported that two opposition candidates were detained in Moscow in a single day.
According to the press service of the "Yabloko" party, on September 4, two candidates running in the State Duma elections were detained by law enforcement agencies in Moscow.
Anna Shatunovskaya-Byurno was detained near her home and taken to the "Yakimanka" police station. She was nominated as a candidate for State Duma deputy from the Preobrazhensky single-mandate constituency No. 204 in Moscow.
The police drew up a protocol against Shatunovskaya-Byurno under Article 20.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses. This article provides for liability for "propaganda or public demonstration of symbols of extremist organizations."
On the same day, officers in civilian clothes also went to the home of another "Yabloko" candidate, Grigory Grishin. He is participating in the election from the Leningrad single-mandate constituency No. 197.
Party representatives said that Grishin was asked to go to the "Akademichesky" police station to process administrative materials.
Grigory Grishin holds a PhD in Philology, teaches Russian language and literature, and is also involved in documentary filmmaking.
After a case was also registered against him under Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code, he was released from the police.
It is reported that the law enforcement agencies' grievance against Grishin is related to a post he published on Telegram in 2024.
If the court finds Grishin and Shatunovskaya-Byurno guilty of this offense, they could be disqualified from the election campaign.
Another candidate from the party, Artyom Snegovsky, was detained in Moscow on September 1. He is running in the State Duma election from the Lyublino single-mandate constituency No. 198.
An administrative case was initiated against Snegovsky under Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code — "discrediting" the Russian Armed Forces — due to a publication from 2022.
However, being held administratively liable under this article, unlike Article 20.3, does not automatically lead to a candidate losing the right to participate in the election campaign.