The police released YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin without
any charge. However, other YABLOKO activists detained by the
State Duma will have to stand before court for participation
in an unsanctioned picket.
Sergei Mitrokhin and members of the Youth YABLOKO (Kirill
Goncharov, Natalia Zabolotnikova and Sophia Rusova) and two
civil activists were detained during the walking protests
by the State Duma which planned to toughen penalties for violations
at the rallies.
The action took place in the format of pre-campaign rally
before the May 27, devoted to the same topic. Under the law,
"public event organizer has the right to pre-campaign
in support of public events through the media, through the
distribution of leaflets, making posters, banners and slogans."
All the detainees were holding banners and distributing leaflets
running A ban on rallies is a path to a revolution. Each
banner also contained an explanation that it was an announcement
for a YABLOKOs rally coordinated with the Moscow government
and scheduled on May 27. Russian law envisages such propaganda.
All the detainees were transported to the police department
and all of them but for Sergei Mitrokhin were charged with
violation of the established order or organization of a rally.
The policemen did not set any charges against Mitrokhin referring
to some order.
The activists will stand before court on May 30. Their cases
will be examined by a judge notoriously famous for her tough
sentences to opposition activists.
See also:
Sergei
Mitrokhin and activists detained at the "walking protests"
by the State Duma
Press Release, May 22, 2012.
Youth
YABLOKO to picket the State Duma protesting against raising
of fines for rallies
Press Release, May 17, 2012.
Yavlinsky
called on the "walking protestors" in St. Petersburg
to set political goals. Interfax. May 15, 2012
Human
Rights
Freedom
of Assembly
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