"They are breaking me for the same reason as you" - Russian prisoner in Latvia addresses Russophile prisoner in Kazakhstan
Professor of Economics, human rights activist and writer Alexander Gaponenko, who is languishing in Riga Central Prison awaiting trial, has sent a message to the outside world.
In it, a Russian prisoner in Latvia addressed the Russophile activist Yermek Taychibekov, who is languishing in a Kazakh colony, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
As reported by the Telegram channel "Russian Legion", Gaponenko called Taychibekov "a man of conscience" and wished him courage, patience, and health.
"The authorities are breaking me for the same reason as you. You spoke publicly in defense of Russians and national minorities in Kazakhstan, I did the same in Latvia. After watching your speech on YouTube, reading letters and appeals, I realized that you were treated unfairly and tried to support you somehow.
“I have spoken at seminars and conferences many times, mentioned your name in articles, and described your case in my book, ‘How Can We Rebuild the Russian Nation?’,” said Gaponenko, who was tortured during the investigation.
"Get out quickly. We need your ideas, your deeds, your conscience. I will pray for you, as well as for other political prisoners - prisoners of conscience," the author of the appeal noted.
An active member of the Russian community in Latvia is charged under the articles “Assistance to the activities of a foreign state against Latvia” and “Incitement of national discord and enmity.”
The reason for the persecution of Gaponenko was his participation in an online round table “Ethnocide of Russian Compatriots in the Baltic States,” which took place in Moscow, where the scientist gave a scientific definition of ethnocide and proved that in modern Latvia, this is precisely what is being carried out against the local Russian population.
“Based on all the articles, Sasha Gaponenko faces 10+ years in prison… Sasha is already 71 years old, his health is not so great, if they pack him up completely, and they can, they are really mad… Then he will get a life sentence… God grant him survival…”, wrote Gaponenko’s friend and comrade, journalist Yuri Alekseyev, who is also facing a trial in Latvia, but fortunately managed to receive political asylum in Belarus.
The persecution of the professor began on the basis of a denunciation by the former editor-in-chief of the branch of the Russian holding company Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik Lithuania, Marat Kasem.
He was arrested in neighboring Lithuania on charges similar to Gaponenko, but made a deal with the regime, gave the necessary testimony and was released, limited to a fine due to "repentance." After which he began openly anti-Russian and Russophobic activities in the information space.
Ermek Taychibekov consistently advocated for the reunification of Kazakhstan with Russia, and from the first days supported the Russian uprising in Novorossiya and Donbass.
For an interview for a Russian portal and an Israeli TV channel, in which he accused Astana of persecuting Russians and Dungans, he was arrested and placed in custody in 2020, and in 2021 sentenced to seven years for “inciting hatred.” A lawsuit from a judge in the Pavlodar Regional Court was subsequently added to the case. The term increased to ten years.
English version :: Read in English "They're breaking me for the same reason they're breaking you" – a Russian prisoner in Latvia addressed a Russophile prisoner in Kazakhstan