Daniil Konstantinov

Daniil Ilyich Konstantinov (Даниил Ильич Константинов) (born February 5, 1984) is a Russian opposition politician, lawyer, and human rights activist who led the "Moscow Defense League" movement. He is a member of the organizing committee For Fair Elections. Previously, he was an activist in the movement The People, the leader of Change, and a member of the party A Just Russia. Since 2012, he has been a member of the Russian Opposition Coordination Council.

Early and personal life
Konstantinov was born in Leningrad to the family of Russian politician Ilya Konstantinov. In 1992, his family moved to Moscow. He graduated from Russian State Social University with a law degree, later teaching there after completing graduate studies. He is married.

Political career
Konstantinov began participating in politics when he was still a student. In 2004, he ran for election in the Moscow City Duma. In 2005, he organized a steering committee for the creation of a socio-political party known as Change and took part in the State Duma elections as an independent politician.

From 2006 to 2007, he was chief editor of Country and Society, a correspondent of Regnum.ru, a contributor to the site Open Letter to the Government, and organizer and director of the Support Center of Non-Profit Organizations. In early 2007, he joined forces with other opposition groups under the "Popular Front." Later that year, he joined the movement The People, working alongside Alexei Navalny and Zakhar Prilepin, among others. He also worked on the draft law "On Progressive Taxation" and, from November 2007 to 2008, was a member of the party A Just Russia, heading its youth wing in the North-Eastern Administrative Okrug.

On April 22, 2008, he held a conference titled "The Future of Russia: Prospects for Development" at the Higher School of Economics. The conference was dedicated to discussing the results of the presidential elections in Russia and their potential socio-economic and political consequences.

In 2011, he represented the interests of Eduard Limonov in court in the registration of the party "The Other Russia". In May 2011, in collaboration with some young political activists, he announced the foundation of the organizing committee National Salvation Front.

Prosecution
On March 22, 2012, Konstantinov was arrested in his apartment and charged with domestic murder. He says that members of the General Directorate for Combating Extremism (Center "E") initiated the case after he had refused to cooperate. Documents from the investigation dated March 5, 2012, and April 4, 2012, revealed that the operational support for the criminal investigation against Konstantinov was carried out by the General Directorate for Combating Extremism and the management of the Federal Security Service.

After the protest rally "For Fair Elections!" on December 5, 2012, Konstantinov was arrested and imprisoned. An officer of Center "E", who remained anonymous, attempted to converse with Konstantinov. The officer suggested that Daniil would engage in informative activities. When the officer received a firm refusal, he told Konstantinov he would "roll up you to the asphalt" and "Where I am — there corpses and long terms".

Yulia Latynina said that the case of Konstantinov is an extremely rare incident of political persecution on trumped-up criminal charges in modern Russia. He is the only national who the Memorial Centre considers a political prisoner.

Public campaign
Duma deputies spoke in support of Konstantinov, as well as Dmitry Gudkov, Ilya Ponomarev, Alexander Khinshtein, and D. Gorovtsa. Opposition leaders Sergei Udaltsov, Sergey Baburin, Vladimir Milov, and Boris Nemtsov have sent their parliamentary inquiries.

Opposition leaders wrote a collective letter to Yuri Chaika with a request "to take control of the investigation of the Daniil Ilich Konstantinov's case and provide objective and impartial to all the circumstances of this case". The letter was signed by Sergey Baburin, Dmitry Gudkov, Garry Kasparov, Konstantin Krylov, Eduard Limonov, Vladimir Milov, Boris Nemtsov, Valery Solovei, Vladimir Tor, Yegor Kholmogorov, Nadezhda Shalimova and Rostislav Antonov.

Recognition of Konstantinov as political prisoner
Daniil Konstantinov is recognized as a political prisoner by the human rights organization Memorial.

Vladimir Putin about the Daniil Konstantinov's case
During the press conference, Putin answered questions of Znak.com correspondent Ekaterina Vinokurova, who was interested in opinion of the head of state about the repressive nature of the Russian judicial system.

— Now acquittals less 1% — less than under Stalin, — Catherine recalled. — Responding to a similar question, you said that, then, investigation works well. But it is not. Enough to look at the processes on the same Bolotnaya case or cases of Aksana Panova, Daniil Konstantinov.

— I agree with you that we need to seek purity of court decisions, verdicts, improve the quality of the preliminary investigation, judicial investigation, — said Putin. — All of this should be done. But I want to assure you that in fact it is a problem not only in our country. Everywhere there is a miscarriage of justice, any negligence in the investigation and interrogation apparatus and the judiciary. But we must work on this together, including through the media. I also say this quite seriously, without irony any jokes. We are often faced with dishonesty and some substandard work. It happens. And, of course, we have to react to this and try to do it. But I want to pay your attention to the fact that decisions on amnesty just due to the fact to close this topic, flip it. And do everything possible in moving forward, and together with the representatives of civil society, and the law enforcement system, and with the state and other authorities destinations. Okay?

Last Konstantinov's word
In Russia is formed a police state. And the government is based on fear and submission. Free human personality, professing their own views and ideas alien to the police state. It does not belong here. I do not fall under any of the types of people that are convenient for the police state. I do not work in the system, I refused recruitment to the Center for Combating Extremism. I do not wanna run away, I want to continue to struggle here in this country, for our rights. I do not recognize the games and manipulations, when the government forces us to face each other and ignore our common interests. And finally, I do not like to obey. I believe that the human person has a right to free development, especially in the modern world. All these facts together, against the backdrop of increasing political trends expressed in mass protests, the obvious political crisis of 2011-2012, led to the fact that namely Daniil Konstantinov as the least comfortable of all opposition spokesman, was charged with such a heavy crime. You ask me, well, and what about the rest? Why me? Well, first, with others not all so smoothly. And here, in this hall, there are people who have been convicted on political charges, such as Konstantin Krylov. We know many of those who are now being persecuted for a variety of formulations — from Alexei Navalny to Sergei Udaltsov. As for the rest, it is best to ask them why they are not in prison. There are many of those who position themselves as radical revolutionaries who propose radical slogans, but after this follows nothing. And here is something to ponder.

Torture of a political prisoner
Before the verdict was read Konstantinov was tortured, threatened, forced to strip naked, and shocked with a stun gun. After a long session, Konstantinov fainted. As soon as he woke up, he was allowed to get dressed, and placed glass cell. He began to demand his release and end to the intimidation tactics being used against him. This angered his jailers who then grabbed his hands and painfully stretched them using handcuffs. In this position, he spent about two hours before the verdict and another four hours after.

"After, Daniil was taken to detention center, where his injuries were recorded. I have not read the medical report, but I saw on his body handcuff marks and bruises on his right arm, and redness on his belly from stun gun use. We think that it was an inappropriate show of physical force, and request an immediate response from the Moscow City Court", said Shkred, Daniil's lawyer.

Verdict
In late 2013, Konstantinov was not found guilty of murder, however he was not fully acquitted and the case was referred back to prosecution.

Konstantinov culture

 * April 7, 2014, the theater "Torch" premiered Alexei Dykhovichnyi's "Falsification. Daniil Konstantinov process" or simply "Falsification". The premiere was held at the Center for Sakharov.

Comment Vladimir Ryzhkov: "Another 100% falsified case." Quote Alexei Dykhovichnyi: If we are really short, this is a film about the injustice towards the individual. This injustice is shown in the film and clearly documented. Today, this level of injustice is unique even for our justice system, but whether there will be. As is well known, only scary the first time only. If the Russian Themis and make this step towards condemnation of an innocent, tomorrow anyone can be arrested and jailed on charges of first that fell, and no evidence of innocence will not help him. As they say all the experts with whom I could talk to, yet this does not happen, but it can become Konstantinova Rubikon.


 * August 26, 2013 at 14 o'clock artist Alec Petuk spent a quiet campaign " The Art of Contemplation of Nature" at the hearing in the case of political prisoner Daniil Konstantinov