Global Feminism

The Difference One Russian Woman Can Make

If you read the New York Times regularly, you’ve been seeing Russia cropping up fairly regularly in these past weeks. There have been many articles, ranging from the development of renewed activism (including the street protests and recent spate of elected youth) and the presidential election (Prime Minister Vladimir Putin won). However, in the latest article that updates readers on the state of affairs over there, we’re starting to see a merger between these two lines.

In three different judicial hearings, two leaders of the street protest movement in Moscow and the husband of a prominent activist were sentenced to jail-time. Aleksei Kozlov, the husband of renowned activist Olga Romanova received the harshest sentence of all- 5 years in a penal colony on charges of economic fraud.[i]

One might ask how charges of economic fraud against Mr. Kozlov and Ms. Romanova’s activism are linked. Well, let’s follow this rabbit hole, shall we?

Mr. Kozlov’s conviction is from a business deal that happened over four years ago, ignoring the ruling of the Russian Supreme Court last September that overturned the original conviction Mr. Kozlov faced (Russian citizens do not enjoy protection against double jeopardy). Ms. Romanova’s activism began here, when she formed Russia Behind Bars, an organization calling for judicial reform.[ii] Her husband’s case became one among many that the group used to highlight the gross injustices that the Russian legal system carried out.

Russia Behind Bars is fairly unique, as activist organizations go. It is not dominated by idealistic youth, not a grassroots movement that struggles for resources and establishing itself. Instead, the bulk of the members are “middle-aged women who look like accountants or mid-level managers,” the wives of Russian businessmen, women who have taken up the mantle to fight for prisoners’ rights.[iii]

At the end of last year, there had been a reason for hope. Some of the appeals filed by the group were approved; a few judges canceled their own decisions.[iv] However, that changed once the presidential election was determined to be a victory for Putin. Immediately, a stranglehold was placed on their progress. There have been arrests of known anti-Putin activists. Police have raided the bank that finances an anti-Putin newspaper to freeze its accounts. An editor of the one radio station that maintains critical reporting has been removed.[v] The brief glimpse of the people’s power has been viciously assaulted before it even had a chance to stretch its limbs.

Ms. Romanova and her organization is one of the significant members of the opposition movement against Putin, the new President-Elect. In fact, Mr. Kozlov’s case was widely covered in the news as it can be seen as “the first hint of how Putin plans to deal with challenges to his rule.”[vi]

It isn’t like Ms. Romanova and Mr. Kozlov weren’t aware of the dangers of public opposition. In February, amidst her busy schedule of rallies and speeches, she was contacted by prosecutors and shown a draft of the proposed sentence for her husband, “a development she interpreted as a threat and has since presented as evidence that the case was politically motivated.”[vii]

Ms. Romanova was not alone in her frustration and rage at the sentencing. When the verdict was declared, dozens of supporters that were waiting outside began chanting, “Shame!,” “Vasyuchenko, get behind bars,” and “Aleksei.”[viii] Vasyuchenko is the name of the sentencing judge.

Ms. Romanova’s work will go on, and hopefully the spirit of the activists in Russia will continue. I admire the tenacity of these unusual activists. The fact that Ms. Romanova’s husband is singled out shows her power to deal serious damage to the opposition. I hope that this strong woman will continue to be a voice for change and fight for greater accountability in her country.

 

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