Social figure and activist
Aleksei Gaskarov is a spokesperson for Russian civil society, an environmental activist and leading figure of the opposition movement, whose previous activities have resulted in repressions by the authorities. Currently he is no longer as active as an opposition figure as he was, although he had not withdrawn from that arena entirely. He is still involved with an independent trade union advisory centre which recently initiated the campaign against increasing the retirement age in Russia.
Last year, he headed up one of Aleksei Navalny’s regional election headquarter. Gaskarov has been brought up before the court in connection with the protests related to the protection of the Himki forest near Moscow (2010) and participating in anti-government demonstrations on Bolotnaya Square (2012). In the latter case, Gaskarov was imprisoned for three and a half years. He was released in November 2016.