IN Kursk region a criminal case was initiated against a deputy of the Kursk regional duma Olga Li, who recently accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "criminal conspiracy against his own people" and "propaganda of violence" that filled state television channels. The fact of initiation of a criminal case was confirmed by Olga Li herself in a conversation with a Radio Liberty correspondent. She said that she learned about the criminal case against her on Thursday at a meeting of deputies of the Kursk Regional Duma from Nikolai Studenikin, First Deputy Prosecutor of the Kursk Region. According to Lee, at the end of the hearing, the deputies of United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and the Liberal Democratic Party openly expressed their dissatisfaction with her.

The deputy of the Kursk Regional Duma Olga Li posted a video on YouTube more than two weeks ago,

in which she sharply criticized the head of state. Lee said Putin's foreign and domestic politics led to collapse financial system Russia and the suppression of the rule of law. According to the deputy, Putin's rating in the Kursk region does not exceed 25 percent.

Here is what Olga Lee had to say:

I have not yet received an official decision to initiate a criminal case, but the chairman of the regional Duma and the deputy prosecutor informed me that because of my appeals to the President of Russia, a criminal case was opened against me. Accused of slander and extremism. Soon, apparently, I will receive a decision on this. I have been criticized the most for being I do not support the annexation of Crimea to Russia and insult Putin. Lee said. - I was condemned by deputies of all parties. The deputy of the Communist Party said that my words about the illegal annexation of Crimea are dividing the country, but in this difficult time it is necessary to consolidate around Crimea. The deputy suggested that I publicly repent and retract my words. I said that the actions of the current government will lead the country to war. I do not want this and I will not back down from my convictions. I expressed my value judgments, to which I am entitled. I was ready for problems and will solve them as they come.

Information about the initiation of a criminal case appeared on Thursday on the website Investigative Committee Kursk region. On the website of the department, in particular, it is reported that "the suspect in the issue of September-October 2015 of the newspaper" People's Journalist "published an article entitled" Statement on bringing the prosecutor of the region Filimonov to criminal responsibility. "In this article, the author disseminated deliberately false information, discrediting the honor, dignity and undermining the professional reputation of a judge of the Leninsky District Court of the city of Kursk, accusing him of making a deliberately unjust decision in a case of an administrative offense.

We are talking about the case, which Olga Lee herself told the correspondent of Radio Liberty:

In May 2015, a correspondent of the publication “People's Journalist”, which I head, came to the prosecutor's office with a statement about the actions of the regional prosecutor. She was standing near the prosecutor's office with a cow. We did not bring a cow, but we knew that she would be there. Our employee was accused of holding an unsanctioned rally. Judge Shurova behaved incorrectly during the hearing, for example, she before it ended, she said that our employee was guilty. The article, where we described the actions of the judge, was remembered only now, six months later, after my videos criticizing the president, deputy Olga Li said.

The Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the Kursk region declined to comment in connection with information about the opening of a criminal case.

Thefts during the construction of orphanages, thefts at nuclear power plants where an explosion could occur. It seems that President Vladimir Putin simply gave all the regions to local authorities for plunder! This is how Olga Li, a deputy of the Kursk Regional Duma, describes the situation in Russia, whose public accusations against President Vladimir Putin on YouTube received a great response. And she received a criminal case for them on suspicion of slander and extremism. The discussion club Akademia Sokrates helped us organize the interview, the second part of which will be released soon.

Parliamentní listy: Why did you publish your appeal to Vladimir Putin on YouTube only at the end of March? I know that you wrote to the Kremlin several times, but what was the main impetus for publication?

Olga Li: Fellow journalists posted a video message on YouTube after they received a response to a written message with the same text. For ten years, I wrote to the president more than once, talking about the crimes committed by government officials. However, none of my appeals received a single sensible answer. As regards violations federal law“On Citizens’ Initiatives”, then all complaints are redirected to these officials, whose activities are criticized, more precisely, to the regional prosecutor’s office, whose leadership not only I, but the population of the entire region suspect of corruption, cover-up and complicity in criminal offenses.

The exception was not last call. An answer came in which a certain Medvedev, a consultant to the presidential administration, said that the president is the guarantor of constitutionality, but at the same time does not guarantee anything to anyone. It turned out that he, in fact, could not remove from his post the one appointed by him Attorney General who covers for his corrupt employees! Then the question arises, who can remove it? Angry people with pitchforks?! Every year, as an editor and a deputy, thousands of people turn to me with complaints about the brazen crimes of officials, supported by the complete inaction of the prosecutor's office, which should monitor the implementation of the law. Most of the employees of this department are themselves criminals who cover up the criminal offenses of officials from other areas. government controlled and effectively direct all investigations, courts, legislative and executive branch. Then there is nothing to be surprised that the tax authorities are engaged in falsifying the results of audits in order to have a source of bribes, as well as the forcible seizure of enterprises and firms. In collusion with bailiffs land, a roof over their heads, business are taken away from people, they are illegally prosecuted and plundered from the budget. They don't shy away from anything. They steal even at the construction of orphanages. And all this with impunity. Sometimes it even seems that the president simply gave all the regions to local authorities for plunder!

Context

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Russian government and systemic opposition

Is the Russian opposition alive?

So I fulfilled my duty and his request, and as a result, I myself found myself under investigation. Notice, I didn't dance in the church, I didn't gather a protest demonstration, but I just passed on information about crimes that no one wants to investigate! And the president, as we have now learned, does not even want to hear about them!

It should be noted that representatives of the Kremlin parties, i.e. Communist Party Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and " Just Russia are not the opposition - they are only an imitation of it for the international community. Everyone has long been happy with the Kremlin, and their leaders are only thinking about their own pockets. Everyone has one feeder, and the difference is only in portions. By the way, behind the doors of the presidential administration, as I understand it, several dozen other parties were founded, which exist only on paper. I went to the Duma to help people solve their problems, and not to sit and vote for anti-people laws. But how can I do this when I am alone, and there are 44 of them, my colleagues, representatives of the above parties?

My last speech is no different from the others, with the only difference being that in it I said that Putin's popularity in the Kursk region is no more than 25%, even if you take into account the intimidated state employees. Of course, they talk about a high percentage of votes in the elections, but they are silent about a low turnout. Turnout barely reached 30% in the last elections in Kursk. Calculate the real rating with this in mind.

— What do you think about the two criminal cases on suspicion of libel and extremism that were brought against you?

- All these cases are the revenge of the local mafia. I can't call it otherwise. It is stronger and worse than the Sicilian, about which so many films have been made. Italian corruption is just a connection of crime with individual representatives of power. In Russia, it is a strong network of officials at all levels of executive and judicial power. They have concentrated in their hands all Russian finances, all administrative resources. And this is not only my opinion. In fact, if you put, for example, a fashion magazine in a folder called "Criminal Case", this will already be enough to send an innocent person to jail.

And this is how a criminal case is being fabricated against me and my assistant Konstantin Berezin. I hope that someday they will make a film about the Russian Cosa Nostra. And this film is not for the faint of heart. I will help to help write a script for it, which will be completely based on real events. It seems to me that the dear European citizens do not quite understand the danger posed by Russian corruption. It has long been integrated into all aspects of their carefree European life. It has already penetrated into the economy of the EU countries and has already begun to decompose it. I don't know who "pays" for the migration flows, but it seems to me that the "wind blows" from the east. It's easy to say - maybe someone will say - but it seems to me that Putin no longer rules the country. Corruption, which has grown so much under him, already controls his actions, which is even more frightening.

The first criminal case against me was initiated because of slander against a judge. But this was not slander, which is quite clear from the investigation, which was conducted by order of the state prosecutor's office. This was understood by the prosecutor, against whom I had previously filed two applications. Despite our demands to transfer the investigation to another region, he is already monitoring the progress of the investigation. What do you think, what should I expect from a man who is simply on fire with the desire to take revenge?

You won’t believe it, but the investigator’s decision said that I wrote that the judge deliberately made an unfair decision, but there was no such thing in the article at all! However, that didn't stop them from filing a case! Today, that part of the investigation has already been carried out, which concerns not slander, but only negative information. But in fact, no one doubts that it was a criticism of a representative of the judiciary, who brought charges against our colleague in the framework of an administrative case even before the decision was drawn up, which is a gross violation of the law. And this is confirmed by the audio recording of the process. The prosecutors filed charges against me in such a hurry that they probably did not even notice that I was not the editor of the corresponding issue, because I was on vacation at that time. Subsequently, I presume, they established that there had been no libel and that we are talking only about the assessment of the trial, which the law does not prohibit. And by the way, this is not my personal opinion, but the opinion of journalists who filed an application for a review of the case.

And now about extremism. The crux of the matter is the following. As it turned out, by the fact that I am addressing the president, in fact, I am inciting hatred towards a specific social group of people - employees law enforcement and judges. It follows from this that judges and prosecutors are not a professional group paid from the taxes of the people, but a social one. But the law forbids judges to be part of any group or community other than the judiciary. No one takes into account that they are, on the one hand, federal and, on the other hand, civil government officials, that they have different goals and intentions, and that they are paid from our funds, that is, taxpayers' funds.

We asked Judge Karpov of the Basmanny Court how he would now judge if he, as a representative of the prosecutor's office, in his own opinion, is considered one of their victims, because I spoke out against him social group! No one takes into account the international interpretation of extremism, which, unlike the Russian one, is specific and does not include criticism government agencies. It is no coincidence that Russia today does not accept recommendations regarding changes to this article. Today, Putin's prosecutors can label any civic initiative as extremism. So the statement about a criminal offense committed by an official is already extremism!

My business is simply unique. This is the first criminal case in Russia in general, which was initiated simply because of an appeal to the president and nothing more. This is a precedent! There were no appeals in my appeal, as I already said, I did not dance in the church, I did not go out into the street armed, and I did not call people to anything like that. I just - and I insist on this - wrote a request to the president. This is a terrible precedent. It smacks of 1937 in the USSR or, if you like, 1968 in Czechoslovakia. Who would have thought that yesterday's fraternal republic would become enemy number one for the Russian rulers?

The Citizens' Initiatives Act "prohibits prosecution of citizens for initiating a request to the president." The same is written in the media law and in a number of different international declarations. After all, it is forbidden to persecute a deputy for expressing his opinion! I wrote that my business is everyone's business Russian citizens. If I am imprisoned in a pre-trial detention center, this will mean that Russians, under the threat of persecution, will be forbidden to file complaints and express their opinions anywhere. The fact that there is not a single independent human rights organization in Russia does not surprise me. I am surprised that international human rights organizations are silent about this case. I realized that they simply do not exist! All this is a fiction for stealing grants. Their owners spit on both the Russians and their own citizens.

From a legal point of view, those who initiated this case are the criminals themselves, because everything connected with this does not comply with Russian laws in any way. This is just a political response for my objective criticism of the authorities, and thus I became another victim of the regime.

- What, in fact, do these accusations specifically concern, all this investigation? Or what do you know about it?

- I refused to testify, because as a lawyer it is clear to me that both the first and second cases were initiated illegally. In addition, the so-called investigation is supervised by the regional prosecutor, whom, as I said, I suspect of a criminal offense. Currently, the investigation has received one of the conclusions regarding the slander episode. No matter how much the experts wanted to please the prosecutor, they failed to prove the slander. The phrase “knowingly unfair decision”, on which the decision to initiate a case is based, was not found in the text of the article, so it will remain only in the imagination of the investigators.

At one time, we conducted our own examination of the recording of the court session, which was presided over by Judge Shurova, and which we evaluated in the article. As the examination established, the media recording was not changed in any way. So it will not be difficult for me to prove that what the journalists wrote in the article (I mean procedural errors on the part of the judge) is a fact, not slander. By the way, when a young journalist was detained, and this detention was illegal, she was sentenced to three days in prison, fined, and besides, she was beaten.

- You wrote to me that in order to avoid provocations, your lawyer forbids you to communicate with strangers. After we explained that I am a journalist who wants to publish your criticism. And how many provocations did you face?

— Investigators and prosecutors realized that they had nothing to present to the court. Well, of course, if you do not take into account the fact that the judges are bought. Because of this, attempts to provoke me and my colleagues to some other criminal offense do not stop. The same extremism, but this time it's real. I'll give you an example. From another city, under the pretext of helping, a certain person came and began to offer various options violent overthrow of power. Even if I reject his proposals, the very fact of my participation in a dialogue with him gives them a reason to start another test. Fortunately, our lawyer, who, just in case, met with him beforehand, managed to prevent this absolutely planned action from being carried out. He was kicked out of the office. But there were other attempts as well.

Olga Li was born in July 1986 in the city of Abay in Kazakhstan. Later her family moved to Kursk. Olga studied at the Faculty of Economics of the Kursk State technical university. In 2006, she participated in the founding of the newspaper "People's Journalist" and became its chief editor. The newspaper publishes journalistic investigations in the field of taxes, public prosecution and courts. In 2011, Olga became the only member of the Kursk Regional Duma elected as an independent candidate. In 2013, she suggested that citizens stop paying for non-working housing and communal services and held a demonstration against corruption. In March of this year, she released a statement in which she accused Vladimir Putin of a criminal conspiracy against his own people and propaganda of violence through Russian federal television channels. Later, a criminal case was initiated against her on suspicion of libel and extremism. The independent Russian press calls it a wonderful child of regional politics.

The materials of InoSMI contain only assessments of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editors of InoSMI.

Olga Li, a deputy of the Kursk Regional Duma, posted a video on YouTube in which she accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "criminal conspiracy against his own people" and "propaganda of violence that pours from the screens of state-controlled television channels." Li said that Putin's foreign and domestic policies led to the collapse of the Russian financial system and the destruction of her as a rule of law.

The deputy said that Putin took away from people last hope for changes - the right to elect deputies. "All this gives us reason to declare the genocide of Russian citizens and seek help from international human rights organizations." At the end of her speech, she said that "the real rating of the president, even taking into account the intimidated state employees, in the Kursk region does not exceed 25 percent."

Olga Li told Radio Liberty why she made this bold statement and who she considers the "fifth column".

- What prompted you to record and post such a video?

“I have been fighting corruption in my region for a long time. I am outraged by the illegal actions of the prosecutor of the Kursk region Alexander Filimonov, who hides the crimes of various officials and their subordinates. I wrote an appeal to Putin and urged him to pay attention to this situation. In response, she received a reply, so she posted a video where she expressed to the president everything that I think about his activities and his reaction to citizens' appeals.

– Tell us more about corruption in the Kursk region.

- Recently, the city administration moved people from dilapidated and dilapidated housing. The houses in which they lived were to be demolished, and the plots of land under them, tidbits in the center of Kursk, were to be sold at auction, and the money sent to the city budget. Instead, the administration handed over the land to its people, dummies of specific officials, the money, of course, did not come to the budget. We have achieved initiation of a criminal case on the fact of this egregious violation of the law. As a result, the case was not fully investigated and stopped, allegedly because these land plots were returned to the city. But, as we were informed by the Accounts Chamber, they did not. The prosecutor does not react to this lawlessness. I can tell many such stories. I have full confidence: the Office of Public Prosecutor "protects" city administration.

- Where did you get the information that Putin's real rating in the Kursk region is 25%?

- I did not trust the official figures, and we independently interviewed the residents of the Kursk region, how they feel about the local candidates for the State Duma from United Russia, and at the same time asked about Putin. We got 25%, the official figures are almost two, and in some areas even almost three times higher. I'm sure Putin's rating is too high in all of Russia.

How do you explain such low numbers?

“People are dissatisfied with the activities of our prosecutor. Filimonov was appointed by the president, and now he does not take any action in response to complaints from citizens. People see that the law does not work, so they do not support Putin's policy. They constantly observe that they are condemning the innocent, the courts make the decisions that the prosecutor's office prepares. In legal terms, there is complete chaos in our area.

- For example?

- Citizen Agapov, a disabled person of the second group, was accused of killing a friend. According to investigators, Agapov drowned his friend in winter, breaking through 40 centimeters of ice with his foot. I went to the scene of the murder and made sure that it was impossible even to break through such a layer of ice. healthy person. Agapov was acquitted after I personally visited the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Bastrykin. You don't have to be a politician or civil activist to get into the meat grinder Russian justice.

– Judging by what you say in the video, you have many claims against Putin in addition to corruption and the actions of the prosecutor's office.

Our region is more likely to be wiped off the ground along with all the inhabitants

– I do not agree with Russia's participation in the war with Syria. I don't think we should waste our money and energy on this conflict. I am against the annexation of Crimea. The referendum was held in violation international law. For me, the words that the inhabitants of Crimea themselves wanted to go to Russia are not an argument. If the Kursk region now wants to secede, because people are not satisfied with the prosecutor and the president, I doubt that the Russian authorities will allow a referendum on this topic. Our region is more likely to be wiped off the ground along with all the inhabitants. I think it was necessary to negotiate with Ukraine about the fate of Crimea. For example, offer to buy it.

- What did you achieve by posting such a video?

- Resignation of the prosecutor.

“But it won't.

- First of all, I wanted to express my opinion so that both the inhabitants of Russia and international community know how we live. I wanted to tell the truth.

- How did the prosecutor's office react to your speech?

- The prosecutor's office directed its efforts to fight against the employees of the newspaper "People's Journalist", which I head. They put our journalist in jail for three days because she brought a statement to the prosecutor's office. I was fined thirty thousand rubles for making a report near the prosecutor's office. Send us endless checks. I have already been attacked three times. Most recently: at six o'clock in the evening near the office unknown man threatened me with a knife.

- Are you afraid for your life?

Some wrote that I work for the State Department and became a “fifth column”

- I'm afraid, but I think they want to scare me. If they wanted to kill me, they would have done it a long time ago.

What was the reaction after your video?

“Many people supported me. Of course, some wrote that I work for the State Department and have become a “fifth column”. I do not consider myself an opposition, a minority and a “fifth column”. Today, the majority are not snickering officials, but the people, and I count myself among them. I repeat, Putin's ratings – drawn. I think that now the opposition and the “fifth column” – This Russian authorities, not human rights activists and independent journalists. Yes, many citizens are passive, infantile and afraid to openly resent the government, but this does not mean that they approve of its actions. I do not call for a revolution, and the authorities must, without waiting for mass popular indignation, do the right thing.

- Which?

Putin must go. He is no longer the guarantor of the Constitution. In addition, the irremovability of power is very harmful for the country. Putin's eyes are blurred, he ignores his citizens. I made a video so that Putin can hear what his citizens really think before it's too late.

- In 2013, you posted a video in which you urged the people of Russia not to pay for utility services. You said that it is possible to change the robbery in the housing and communal services sector, in which the authorities are to blame, only if you stop paying for utilities. Then someone followed your advice?

– A large number of people, but they lived in different regions, so there was no unity. Many were intimidated by courts and fines. The federal media that wrote about my draft misrepresented the idea. I did not call to refuse to completely pay for housing and communal services. I offered not to pay for several months to show the authorities that citizens are able to unite. And then pay only for quality services. Now I can repeat this call. Today we continue to be forced to pay for everything that is drawn on paper. Management companies rob citizens, people give a lot of money for utilities that were not provided.

- For three years, the situation in the housing sector has not changed for the better. Maybe stop fighting windmills and leave the country?

- I want to live in Russia and I don't think I'm fighting windmills. I recently organized a rally against corruption, the largest in Lately in Kursk. Approximately 3,000 people came to it. We have retired several members of the UK and tax service have helped many people avoid jail time. We work in manual mode, but a lot can be done.

- "Who are "we?

– Employees of my independent publication “People's Journalist”. In my second year at university (I graduated from law school), I decided that I needed to start working. I did not want to go to pro-government newspapers. There were no independent publications in Kursk, and I created my own. I came up with a media outlet that can publish both professional journalists and citizens of Kursk who have something to tell. Suggested this idea international edition Sasha. They gave money for the first time, then we began to earn money ourselves.

– How can an independent regional publication make money?

– We do not have a permanent investor, we take money for investigations. They are ordered to us by relatives of people who are under investigation or have already been convicted. If the person who contacted us has a very a difficult situation and there is no money, we find sponsors for him. We investigate socially significant offenses free of charge. For example, we investigated the case when the Deputy Prosecutor of the Kursk Region and the son of the Governor of the Lipetsk Region Roman Korolev killed a woman in an SUV. We brought this case to the federal level. SC opened a criminal case.

- How did you become a member of the Kursk Regional Duma?

- After five years of leadership of the publication "People's Journalist" I put forward my candidacy for deputies. Twice as many votes were cast for me as for United Russia. I – the only independent deputy in our Duma.

Tell us about your political or career ambitions.

- I have no ambitions, I have a feeling that it is time for people to unite, otherwise everything will be very bad. And this – another reason why I recorded the video... They ask me if I'm afraid to answer for "hitting" Putin. I hope, if I answer, then only according to the law.

Lee O.

Olga Li, a deputy of the Kursk Regional Duma, posted a video on YouTube in which she accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "criminal conspiracy against his own people" and "propaganda of violence that pours from the screens of state-controlled television channels." Li stated that Putin's foreign and domestic policies led to the collapse of the Russian financial system and the destruction of it as a state of law.

The deputy said that Putin had taken away from the people the last hope for change - the right to elect deputies. "All this gives us reason to declare the genocide of Russian citizens and seek help from international human rights organizations." At the end of her speech, she said that "the real rating of the president, even taking into account the intimidated state employees, in the Kursk region does not exceed 25 percent."

Olga Li told Radio Liberty why she made this bold statement and who she considers the "fifth column".

//www.youtube.com/embed/3TVR5ixwuLk?&&fs=1

- What prompted you to record and post such a video?

“I have been fighting corruption in my region for a long time. I am outraged by the illegal actions of the prosecutor of the Kursk region Alexander Filimonov, who hides the crimes of various officials and his subordinates. I wrote an appeal to Putin and urged him to pay attention to this situation. In response, she received a reply, so she posted a video where she expressed to the president everything that I think about his activities and his reaction to citizens' appeals.

– Tell us more about corruption in the Kursk region.

- Recently, the city administration moved people from dilapidated and dilapidated housing. The houses in which they lived were to be demolished, and the plots of land under them, tidbits in the center of Kursk, were to be sold at auction, and the money sent to the city budget. Instead, the administration handed over the land to its people, dummies of specific officials, the money, of course, did not come to the budget. We have achieved initiation of a criminal case on the fact of this egregious violation of the law. As a result, the case was not fully investigated and stopped, allegedly because these land plots were returned to the city. But, as we were informed by the Accounts Chamber, they did not. The prosecutor does not react to this lawlessness. I can tell many such stories. I have full confidence: the Office of Public Prosecutor "protects" city administration.

- Where did you get the information that Putin's real rating in the Kursk region is 25%?

- I did not trust the official figures, and we independently interviewed the residents of the Kursk region, how they feel about the local candidates for the State Duma from United Russia, and at the same time asked about Putin. We got 25%, the official figures are almost two, and in some areas even almost three times higher. I'm sure Putin's rating is too high in all of Russia.

How do you explain such low numbers?

“People are dissatisfied with the activities of our prosecutor. Filimonov was appointed by the president, and now he does not take any action in response to complaints from citizens. People see that the law does not work, so they do not support Putin's policy. They constantly observe that they are condemning the innocent, the courts make the decisions that the prosecutor's office prepares. In legal terms, there is complete chaos in our area.

- For example?

- Citizen Agapov, a disabled person of the second group, was accused of killing a friend. According to investigators, Agapov drowned his friend in winter, breaking through 40 centimeters of ice with his foot. I went to the scene of the murder and made sure that it was impossible even for a healthy person to break through such a layer of ice. Agapov was acquitted after I personally visited the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Bastrykin. You don't have to be a politician or a civil activist to get into the meat grinder of Russian justice.

– Judging by what you say in the video, you have many claims against Putin in addition to corruption and the actions of the prosecutor's office.

Our region is more likely to be wiped off the ground along with all the inhabitants

– I do not agree with Russia's participation in the war with Syria. I don't think we should waste our money and energy on this conflict. I am against the annexation of Crimea. The referendum was held in violation of international law. For me, the words that the inhabitants of Crimea themselves wanted to go to Russia are not an argument. If the Kursk region now wants to secede, because people are not satisfied with the prosecutor and the president, I doubt that the Russian authorities will allow a referendum on this topic. Our region is more likely to be wiped off the ground along with all the inhabitants. I think it was necessary to negotiate with Ukraine about the fate of Crimea. For example, offer to buy it.

- What did you achieve by posting such a video?

- Resignation of the prosecutor.

“But it won't.

– First of all, I wanted to express my opinion so that both the people of Russia and the international community know how we live. I wanted to tell the truth.

- How did the prosecutor's office react to your speech?

- The prosecutor's office directed its efforts to fight against the employees of the newspaper "People's Journalist", which I head. They put our journalist in jail for three days because she brought a statement to the prosecutor's office. I was fined thirty thousand rubles for making a report near the prosecutor's office. Send us endless checks. I have already been attacked three times. The last one was quite recent: at six o'clock in the evening, near the office, an unfamiliar man threatened me with a knife.

- Are you afraid for your life?

Some wrote that I work for the State Department and became a “fifth column”

- I'm afraid, but I think they want to scare me. If they wanted to kill me, they would have done it a long time ago.

What was the reaction after your video?

“Many people supported me. Of course, some wrote that I work for the State Department and have become a “fifth column”. I do not consider myself an opposition, a minority and a “fifth column”. Today, the majority are not snickering officials, but the people, and I count myself among them. I repeat, Putin's ratings are drawn. I think that now the opposition and the “fifth column” are the Russian government, and not human rights activists and independent journalists. Yes, many citizens are passive, infantile and afraid to openly resent the government, but this does not mean that they approve of its actions. I do not call for a revolution, and the authorities must, without waiting for mass popular indignation, do the right thing.

- Which?

Putin must go. He is no longer the guarantor of the Constitution. In addition, the irremovability of power is very harmful for the country. Putin's eyes are blurred, he ignores his citizens. I made a video so that Putin can hear what his citizens really think before it's too late.

- In 2013, you posted a video in which you urged the people of Russia not to pay for utility services. You said that it is possible to change the robbery in the housing and communal services sector, in which the authorities are to blame, only if you stop paying for utilities. Then someone followed your advice?

- A large number of people, but they lived in different regions, so unity did not work out. Many were intimidated by courts and fines. The federal media that wrote about my draft misrepresented the idea. I did not call to refuse to completely pay for housing and communal services. I offered not to pay for several months to show the authorities that citizens are able to unite. And then pay only for quality services. Now I can repeat this call. Today we continue to be forced to pay for everything that is drawn on paper. Management companies rob citizens, people give a lot of money for utilities that were not provided.

- For three years, the situation in the housing sector has not changed for the better. Maybe stop fighting windmills and leave the country?

//www.youtube.com/embed/b-_YuqesiMI?&&fs=1

- I want to live in Russia and I don't think I'm fighting windmills. I recently organized a rally against corruption, the most numerous in recent times in Kursk. Approximately 3,000 people came to it. We fired several employees of the UK and the tax service, helped many people avoid imprisonment. We work in manual mode, but a lot can be done.

- "Who are "we?

– Employees of my independent publication “People's Journalist”. In my second year at university (I graduated from law school), I decided that I needed to start working. I did not want to go to pro-government newspapers. There were no independent publications in Kursk, and I created my own. I came up with a media outlet that can publish both professional journalists and citizens of Kursk who have something to tell. She proposed this idea to the international publication Sasha. They gave money for the first time, then we began to earn money ourselves.

– How can an independent regional publication make money?

– We do not have a permanent investor, we take money for investigations. They are ordered to us by relatives of people who are under investigation or have already been convicted. If the person who applied to us has a very difficult situation and no money, we find sponsors for him. We investigate socially significant offenses free of charge. For example, we investigated the case when the Deputy Prosecutor of the Kursk Region and the son of the Governor of the Lipetsk Region Roman Korolev killed a woman in an SUV. We brought this case to the federal level. SC opened a criminal case.

- How did you become a member of the Kursk Regional Duma?

- After five years of leadership of the publication "People's Journalist" I put forward my candidacy for deputies. Twice as many votes were cast for me as for United Russia. I am the only independent deputy in our Duma.

Tell us about your political or career ambitions.

- I have no ambitions, I have a feeling that it is time for people to unite, otherwise everything will be very bad. And this is another reason why I recorded the video... They ask me if I'm not afraid to answer for "hitting" Putin. I hope, if I answer, then only according to the law.

Interviewed by Darina Shevchenko
27.03.2016

Here is what Olga Lee had to say:

I have not yet received an official decision to initiate a criminal case, but the chairman of the regional Duma and the deputy prosecutor informed me that because of my appeals to the President of Russia, a criminal case was opened against me. Accused of slander and extremism. Soon, apparently, I will receive a decision on this. Most of all, I was criticized for not supporting the annexation of Crimea to Russia and insulting Putin. Lee said. - I was condemned by deputies of all parties. The deputy of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation said that my words about the illegal annexation of Crimea are dividing the country, but it is necessary ...

In the Kursk region, a criminal case has been initiated against Olga Li, a deputy of the Kursk regional Duma, who recently accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "criminal conspiracy against his own people" and "propaganda of violence" that filled state television channels. The fact of initiation of a criminal case was confirmed by Olga Li herself in a conversation with a Radio Liberty correspondent. She said that she learned about the criminal case against her on Thursday at a meeting of deputies of the Kursk Regional Duma from Nikolai Studenikin, First Deputy Prosecutor of the Kursk Region. According to Lee, at the end of the hearing, the deputies of United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and the Liberal Democratic Party openly expressed their dissatisfaction with her.

More than two weeks ago, Olga Li, a deputy of the Kursk Regional Duma, posted a video on YouTube in which she sharply criticized the head of state. Li said that Putin's foreign and domestic policies led to the collapse of the Russian financial system and the suppression of the rule of law. According to the deputy, Putin's rating in the Kursk region does not exceed 25 percent.

Here is what Olga Lee had to say:

I have not yet received an official decision to initiate a criminal case, but the chairman of the regional Duma and the deputy prosecutor informed me that because of my appeals to the President of Russia, a criminal case was opened against me. Accused of slander and extremism. Soon, apparently, I will receive a decision on this. Most of all, I was criticized for not supporting the annexation of Crimea to Russia and insulting Putin. Lee said. - I was condemned by deputies of all parties. The deputy of the Communist Party said that my words about the illegal annexation of Crimea are dividing the country, but in this difficult time it is necessary to consolidate around Crimea. The deputy suggested that I publicly repent and retract my words. I said that the actions of the current government will lead the country to war. I do not want this and I will not back down from my convictions. I expressed my value judgments, to which I am entitled. I was ready for problems and will solve them as they come.