YABLOKO paid tribute to the victims of shooting in Novocherkassk
which took place 50 years ago in 1962. Activists of the Moscow
branch of YABLOKO brought flowers to the Solovetsky Stone
by the KGB/Federal Security Service building in Lubyanka,
Moscow.
On June 2, 1962, the Soviet interior forced shot peaceful
demonstration of workers and other residents of Novocherkassk.
According to the official data, 26 people were killed. They
were secretly buried in other cities of the region. Later
the court sentenced seven organizers of mass disorders to
death and 105 people were sentenced to 10 15 years in maximum
security penal colonies.
Workers protests took place after raising of retail prices
on food-stuffs (a 25 per cent rise). Simultaneously the directorate
of the plant raised the productivity standards for workers
resulting in the reduction of their wages. The workers and
residents of Novocherkassk went on a demonstration under the
slogans Meat!, Bread! and Milk!
Let us commemorate all those who were shot or ended their
lives on the camps only because they dared to demand justice,
Galina Mikhalyova, First Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch
of YABLOKO addressed all who gathered by the Solovetsky Stone.
We will never be able to build a democratic society where
the government is under public control without realizing the
situation citizens had to face in the totalitarian state,
she noted.
Mikhalyova also drew parallels between the behaviour of the
Soviet authorities suppressing the protests and the actions
of todays government toughening the liability for violations
at rallies targeted at actual ban of rallies.
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