The Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Garrison Military Court on June 6 sentenced 86-year-old human rights activist Mark Kuperman, who is confined to a wheelchair, to a fine of 500 thousand rubles on charges of 'calls to terrorism,' reports the project 'For Human Rights.'
The initiation of the case against Kuperman became known in April 2024. He was accused of distributing and discussing a document titled 'Plan for Western Participation in Regime Change in Russia. Humanitarian Occupation.' The human rights activist denied the distribution.
'There are more than 40 testimonies in court from witnesses and written evidence that I did not send them this so-called 'Western Plan,' Kuperman said, adding that the judge did not allow him to make a final statement before the sentence. At the previous hearing on June 5, when he was supposed to speak, Kuperman was 'not up to the court' due to an attack that happened to his wife — she is disabled and has a pacemaker.
In court, the main witness for the prosecution was a former colleague of Kuperman. The human rights activist speculated that he cooperated with the investigation due to the threat of a criminal case: he did not want to serve in the army.
'I am found guilty of public calls to terrorism! This is nonsense! I am against any wars, except defensive ones, that is, I am also against the so-called SMO, because such actions contradict both the UN Charter and the Helsinki commitments of our country to ensure the inviolability of post-war borders as the foundation of peace in Europe. And it destroys the highest of human rights — the right to life. This is my opinion, the dissemination of which is granted to me by Articles 29, 2, 15 of the still active Constitution. But I did not call anyone to any violence! We will file an appeal,' Kuperman stated after the sentence.
In the 90s, Mark Kuperman was the mayor of Okha and the vice-governor of the Sakhalin region. He left his post due to disagreement with the current government. In 2022, the human rights activist published a petition against the war in Ukraine.
Photo: For Human Rights