Angelina Roshchupko is a defendant in the case against “Vesna,” though she was never a member of the movement. Previously, she worked with Lev Shlosberg and supported Pskov’s “Yabloko” party.
Her connection to “Vesna” seemingly stems from an article she wrote about “Yabloko” for “Sсat Media.” As a result, Angelina became one of the defendants in a case accusing an NGO of infringing on citizens’ rights, and she is now subject to certain restrictions during the investigation.
Through Angelina’s husband, we conducted a short interview to introduce her to you.
Why did you get involved in politics?
I became interested in politics around the age of 14. I remember the Bolotnaya protests were happening at the time. On my way to school, I listened to Kommersant FM radio, where Anton Krasovsky and Oleg Kashin hosted a show. Back then, they both advocated for reforms and supported the opposition. It’s funny to think about now, but Krasovsky’s words were what got me to attend my first rally. That’s how it started. Ten years have passed since then.
Tell us about your work with Shlosberg: what did you do, and what projects were you involved in?
I’d followed Lev Markovich’s work for a long time. I’ve always felt aligned with the ideas he expressed. In the summer of 2021, when it became known that Shlosberg would run for the State Duma in Moscow, I joined his campaign headquarters as a manager for canvassers. We had a large team of canvassers and supporters in the Khovrino district.
Sociology showed that there was a chance of winning. I might be wrong with the numbers, but about 20 days before the elections, Lev Markovich was disqualified—his candidacy for the State Duma was annulled. The official story was that he was allegedly connected to Alexei Navalny’s rally in Pskov. As the saying goes, they found a reason, and of course, the public’s opinion didn’t matter to them.
What projects did you work on with Pskov’s “Yabloko”?
A team from Moscow was invited to help the candidates for the State Duma and the regional assembly in Pskov during the final weeks of the campaign. In two weeks, we managed to run an incredibly powerful campaign: we helped elect a wonderful and honest person, Artur Gayduk—a paramedic and bard—to the regional assembly.
Campaigning in the regions and in Moscow is like night and day. In Pskov, we had clashes with both United Russia and the “New People” party over campaign cubes. Sometimes they were approved, sometimes they were canceled. I was amazed by the people I met in Pskov—people ready to fight for the truth.
Why didn’t you leave Russia when the war started? Why was it important for you to stay?
I can’t imagine myself outside the context of Russia right now. It’s infinitely difficult for me. Before my criminal case, I looked at Kara-Murza and Yashin and wondered: why don’t you leave? You’ll be jailed! My own criminal case was an unpleasant surprise, but I can’t say I was shocked. Even though I didn’t write against Russia’s actions after February 24 for Sсat Media or attend anti-war protests, nothing in Russia surprises you anymore. That’s how I came to understand Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin.
How are you living under restrictions on certain activities?
The worst thing about the restrictions is that I can’t work. I’m a burden on my loved ones. There’s also the weekly contact with Federal Penitentiary Service officers and court sessions. But overall, these are minor inconveniences. I’m grateful to my husband. Yes, I recently got married. I met my husband during Lev Shlosberg’s campaign. I’m surrounded by my friends and parents. They all support me immensely. I also know that each of them shares my position.
What is your vision for Russia’s future?
For me, the Russia of the future is, first and foremost, a country of opportunities, social mobility, and freedom of speech. All of this is possible when all governing institutions function properly, and power is not concentrated in the hands of one person.
