Yulia Tsvetkova is being prosecuted because of her public stance and feminist views. Feminist and artist Yulia Svetkova, who lives in Komsomolsk-na-Amur, has been charged with unlawful preparation and trafficking of pornographic materials on the Internet (Article 242, Section 3, Part b, of the Russian Criminal Code, punishable by up to six years’ deprivation of liberty). The charges are based on her role as administrator of a feminist body-positive online group, ‘Vagina Monologues,’ which has published abstract depictions of female sexual organs and items similar to those either drawn by Tsvetova or posted earlier on the Internet with the aim of removing the taboo surrounding female physiology. Since 23 November 2019 Tsvetkova has been under house arrest. The criminal investigation was initiated following a complaint by homophobic activist Timur Bulatov, who has a criminal record. Bulatov, according to statements he has made, is conducting a ‘moral jihad’ against LGBT people, and those who treat them with tolerance, by making complaints to law enforcement agencies.
Memorial Human Rights Centre, in line with international guidelines defining the term, recognises Yulia Tsvetkova as a political prisoner. We urge that the absurd charges concerning alleged distribution of pornography be dropped and that the activist be immediately released from house arrest. Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner, or of a prosecution as politically motivated, does not imply that Memorial Human Rights Centre shares or approves the individual’s views, statements or actions.
Republished by kind permission of Memorial Human Rights Centre |