Ilya Yashin
Ilya Valeryevich Yashin (, born 29 June 1983) is a Russian political figure and local government representative. Chairman of the Council of Deputies of the municipal district Krasnoselsky of the city Moscow, head of the municipality Krasnoselsky since 7 October 2017. Leaders of the political party RPR-PARNAS (2012–2016), co-founder and one of the leaders of the political movement Solidarnost. He is also the leader of the Moscow branch of the RPR-PARNAS, in which Solidarnost participates. In 2005 he was one of the founders of the civic youth movement Oborona. He was an active participant in Dissenters ' Marches and the rallies "For Fair Elections". In 2012 he was elected to the Russian Opposition Coordination Council. On 10 September 2017 Yashin was elected a municipal deputy of the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow, and subsequently elected as chairman. However, on 27 July 2021, he resigned. Early life. Born in Moscow, he served as the leader of the Yabloko party's youth wing until 2008, organizing mass protests and speaking to the media about their causes. However, when he became an active member of Solidarnost, Yabloko expelled him for "causing political damage". Yashin is known for making passionate speeches at  opposition rallies. He is an active participant in the Strategy-31 campaign for freedom of assembly. In 2005, he spoke against the Nashi movement, which supports President Vladimir Putin. On 31 December 2010, Yashin was arrested for demonstrating in Moscow at another rally for 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. Following the alleged kidnapping and torture of opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev, from Kyiv, Ukraine, Yashin was arrested on  27 October 2012 along with Sergei Udaltsov and Alexei Navalny while attempting to join a Moscow protest on Razvozzhayev's behalf. The three were charged with violating public order, for which they could be fined up to 30,000 rubles (US$1,000) or given 50 hours of community service. On 23 February 2016 Yashin, despite harassment by police and hecklers, presented a report criticizing Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, labeling him a danger to Russian national security and called for his resignation. The report highlighted Kadyrov's encouragement of violence against opposition activists and federal law enforcement officials, his luxurious lifestyle and  corruption, and the building of a personal army. Political career. On 10 September 2017 Yashin was elected a municipal deputy of the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow. The Solidarnost team won 7 out of 10 seats in this district (the United Russia won the other 3). On 25 September 2017 he took the office. On 7 October 2017 Ilya Yashin was elected a chairman of the council of deputies of Krasnoselsky municipal district of Moscow. On 11 April 2018 Yashin announced his intention to run in the election for Moscow mayor's office and beat the incumbent Sergey Sobyanin. On 25  June 2021, he was barred from running in the upcoming legislative election after being considered an "extremist". He reported that he considered it was due to his support for Alexei Navalny. In March 2022, Yashin publicly criticised the Russian invasion of Ukraine.