Ilya Yashin

Who is Ilya Yashin?

Ilya Yashin is a Russian activist and liberal politician, one of key leaders of political party «RPR-PARNAS», co-founder and one of leaders of political movement Solidarnost. He is also the leader of the Moscow branch of the RPR-PARNAS, in which the Solidarnost participates. In 2005 he was one of founders of civic youth movement Oborona. Active participant of Dissenters' Marches and rallies «For Fair Elections». In 2012 he was elected in Russian Opposition Coordination Council.

Until 2008 he was the leader of Yabloko party's youth wing, organizing mass protests and speaking to the media about its causes. However, when he became an active member of the Solidarnost, Yabloko expelled him for "causing political damage".

Yashin is known for making passionate speeches at opposition rallies. He is an active participant of the Strategy-31 campaign for freedom of assembly. In 2005, he spoke against the Nashi movement, which supported President Vladimir Putin.

On 31 December 2010 Yashin was arrested for demonstrating in Moscow at another rally of Strategy-31. He was taken to a police station and detained for fifteen days. He claims evidence was then fabricated against him by the police. Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience, along with Boris Nemtsov and Konstantin Kosiakin.