{"id":36329,"date":"2025-03-21T14:55:50","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T11:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/news\/poslednee-slovo-aleksandra-skobova-v-sude\/"},"modified":"2025-03-24T00:17:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T21:17:46","slug":"poslednee-slovo-aleksandra-skobova-v-sude","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/en\/news\/poslednee-slovo-aleksandra-skobova-v-sude\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI am the accuser here\u2014I accuse Putin\u2019s corpse\u2011stinking clique\u201d. Closing statement of dissident Alexander Skobov, sentenced to 16 years in prison"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexander Skobov. Photo: Mediazona<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the 1st Western District Military Court sentenced 67-year-old dissident Alexander Skobov to 16 years in prison and fined him 300,000 rubles (just over $3,500). Skobov, who first faced criminal prosecution in the USSR, was convicted under charges of \u201cparticipation in the activities of a terrorist community\u201d (for his involvement with the Free Russia Forum,<\/em> a Russian opposition conference abroad) and \u201cjustification of terrorism\u201d (for his social media posts and articles). Mediazona<\/em> publishes Skobov\u2019s closing statement from today\u2019s trial\u2014a passionate speech in which he continues to openly support Ukraine, defies persecution and denounces judges as accomplices of Putin\u2019s war crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0427\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0430 \u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043c<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will not dwell on the fact that the investigation has branded the organisation I have the honour of belonging to, the Free Russia Forum<\/em>,<\/em> as a terrorist community. There has been no official ruling from any government body recognising the Free Russia Forum<\/em> as such. For now, it is merely an \u201cundesirable organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I have little interest in all this petty mumbling. I prefer to speak about what truly matters. What matters here is the platform of the Free Russia Forum,<\/em> a platform I was directly involved in shaping, and one that distinguishes the Free Russia Forum<\/em> from most other opposition organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me remind you that this platform is built on three principles. First: we stand for the unconditional return to Ukraine of all its internationally recognised territories occupied by Russia, including Crimea. Yes, \u041a\u0440\u0438\u043c \u0446\u0435 \u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0430<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second. We support all those who are fighting to achieve these goals\u2014including citizens of the Russian Federation who have voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And third. We recognise any form of war against Putin\u2019s tyranny inside Russia, including armed resistance. Of course, we are deeply disgusted by the methods of ISIS, when innocent people are targeted, as was the case in Crocus City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But are the Kremlin\u2019s war propagandists a legitimate target? The Free Russia Forum<\/em> has not formally debated this issue or adopted any resolutions on it, so what I say next reflects my personal position alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe that propagandists such as TV host Vladimir Solovyov deserve the same fate as Hitler\u2019s chief propagandist Julius Streicher, who was hanged by the Nuremberg Tribunal. Until these outcasts of the human race are brought before a new Nuremberg Tribunal\u2014and as long as this war continues\u2014they remain legitimate military targets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, the comparison between Putin\u2019s and Hitler\u2019s propagandists is not mere rhetoric. Much of my public writings has been devoted to proving the inherently Nazi nature of Putin\u2019s regime\u2014a regime with which peaceful coexistence is fundamentally impossible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I appeal now, as I have before, first and foremost to Europe, which should remember the origins of the current European system. Since 1945, Europe has been building a world in which predators no longer prevailed, a world based on the principles of law, justice, freedom, and humanity. Europe had achieved much on this path and seemed to have rid itself of massacres and territorial redistributions forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europe once believed that this safe and prosperous world was securely protected by a great powerful ally across the ocean. Today, this world is being torn to splinters by two scoundrels on both sides: the Kremlin and Washington. People with pro-fascist values have come to power in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are witnessing a disgusting attempt at a purely imperialist collusion between two predators. An even more despicable collusion than the Munich Betrayal of 1938. If Putin\u2019s annexations are legalised, it will spell disaster for civilization. Europe, you have been betrayed. Wake up and go fight for your world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Death to the Russian fascist invaders! Death to Putin, the new Hitler, murderer and scoundrel! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I usually end my speeches with these words. But today I will be further asked whether I plead guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, I am the accuser here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I accuse Putin\u2019s corpse-stinking clique of planning, unleashing, and waging an aggressive war. Of committing war crimes in Ukraine. Of orchestrating political terror in Russia. Of corrupting my people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now, I ask the servants of Putin\u2019s regime present here, mere cogs in the repressive machine: do you find yourselves guilty of complicity in Putin\u2019s crimes? Do you repent?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with that, I\u2019ve said all I needed to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor: Yegor Skovoroda<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-36329","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","regions-komi-republic"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cI am the accuser here\u2014I accuse Putin\u2019s corpse\u2011stinking clique\u201d. Closing statement of dissident Alexander Skobov, sentenced to 16 years in prison - Political prisoners support. 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