They shouted their opposition by the thousands during the first days of the war. But since then, the Russian repressive machine has done its work. While the Russian army annihilates Ukraine, the regime of Vladimir Putin completes what remains of freedom of expression in the country of the tsars. Some Russian dissidents, however, defy the prohibitions, at the risk of their safety. The duty discussed with some of them or with their relatives. Second portrait in a series of four.
Matvey Gomon was “mentally prepared” for arrest on March 6 when he walked to an anti-war demonstration on St Petersburg’s main thoroughfare.
“But I didn’t even have time to get there,” quips the 21-year-old young man, joined at his home in Saint Petersburg. I was stopped by police officers 10-15 seconds after leaving the subway station. »
The police raid was so intense that day that the detention centers of the former imperial capital could not cope with the task. “I was sent to a prison about 150 km from Saint Petersburg because there was no more room in the cells in the city,” Matvey recalls.
The sentence fell two days later: 10 days in prison for having violated the health measures put in place to combat COVID (ban on gathering). “In Russia, it has become common practice to use COVID measures for political reasons,” he says.
Although he was aware that he could be arrested, the young man wanted to publicly demonstrate his opposition to the military invasion of Ukraine.
“It was important for me and my friends to show [au monde] that not all Russians support the war and the idea that Ukraine should be our enemy,” he explains. Just as it was visceral for them to chant loud and clear to Vladimir Putin’s government that they did not approve of this warlike flight. “And above all, that we weren’t afraid to show it. »
Intensification of repression
While not surprised or shocked by his March 6 arrest, Matvey was amazed by the number of days of incarceration imposed on him. “I have friends who had been arrested in the first days of the war [déclenchée le 24 février] and who had received three days in prison. »
An intensification of police repression which unfortunately had the expected results, must admit the young man. “It worked 99%, since after the third week of the war, there was hardly anyone demonstrating. The regime managed to get us off the streets. »
Matvey himself has not participated in public actions opposing the war since his time in prison. “I’m scared now,” he said. If I am arrested a second time, I face up to a month in prison. If I am arrested a third time, I could spend several years behind bars. »
Like many other protesters, Matvey also saw that Vladimir Putin’s regime was not about to fall. “We understood that we had no real impact on the Russian government and that the regime was solid. It’s not a few thousand people on the street [sur une population de 144 millions de personnes] who will make them change their minds so that they stop the war”, he reasons.
Censorship
The young man nevertheless continues to hold the same anti-war discourse in private, he assures. “And I donated money [pour soutenir les Ukrainiens]. Matvey also says he continues to get information on the Internet from credible sources by using a VPN to reach sites blocked by the Russian regime.
If the authoritarian regime of Vladimir Putin were to be overthrown, it would not be by the political opposition, which was completely destroyed, he believes. “I have no hope for such a revolution. But maybe changes will come when ordinary people say enough is enough, because they will suffer the consequences of war and their standard of living will have dropped. [en raison des sanctions économiques]. »
Should economic and social conditions continue to deteriorate, Matvey does not rule out leaving Russia. “But for now, I’m staying,” he said. Russia is my country, my home. It is nevertheless essential in his eyes that the whole world understands that many Russians continue to oppose the war in Ukraine. “But we don’t have the resources to actually do anything to stop it. »
With Vlada Nebo