Press Release, 11.02.2016

Today, on 11 February, Tverskoi District Court decided to adjourn the hearings on the detention of Sergei Mitrokhin on picket for resignation of Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Chechnya, after public threats of the latter to the Russian opposition. The court sent the case back to the police department for revision.

The judge appointed for the trial is the same as two days earlier, who recognised Mitrokhin guilty of breaking the law in the action in defense of the Russian Constitution on 12 December. Mitrokhin’s lawyer Boris Mamatov made a motion to recuse the judge and the hearings were conducted by another judge. She decided to adjourn the court hearing to 1 March.

Sergei Mitrokhin, member of the Federal Political Committee of YABLOKO and Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO, was detained on 26 January during a picket for resignation of Ramzan Kadyrov held by the Administration of President of Russia. Mitrokhin is charged with violation of the established order of organisation or holding meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches or pickets (Article 20.2 of the Administrative Violations Code). A violation of this article implies a fine of from 10,000 to 20,000 roubles, or community service works for up to 40 hours. Sergei Mitrokhin was arrested in the very beginning of the action immediately after he unfolded the poster on the police demand.

The trial will take place in Tverskoi District Court (address: Tzvetnoi Boulvard, 25A, room 15) on 1 March at 14:30.