 Critics said the trial was “part of a Kremlin campaign to stifle dissent while all eyes are on the Ukraine crisis.” Acting on the assumption that he would be found guilty, Gaskarov and Karpova were married at his Moscow prison in early August.On August 14, 2014, Gaskarov gave his closing statement at the trial.He said that the case had “become emblematic” because it showed “how power deals with opposition – with those whose view is different from the general line.” He stated that the movement against the Putin regime had drawn more and more members because of Putin's declaration “that the idea of interchangeability of power wasn’t best for Russia.” He added that “we should be happy that the events on the Bolotnaya Square happened exactly this way because in all developed democratic countries protests...shape political competition, which allows a country to find an optimal way of development.” He also asked