Press Release, 10.04.2019

Prosecution of the organisers and participants of the anti-garbage rally of 7 April goes on in Arkhangelsk.

On the evening of 10 April, Yuri Chesnokov, one of the organisers of the environmental protest in Arkhangelsk and member of the Regional Council of the Yabloko party, was detained for the third time.

Photo: Yuri Chesnokov

The activist is charged with violation of Article 20.2 Part 1 of the Administrative Code (“Violation by the organiser of a public event of the established organisation of the event”), as well as Part 3 of the same article (“Actions of the rally organiser that caused interference with the functioning of vital infrastructure, transport or social infrastructure”). Under this article, Yuri Chesnokov faces a fine of up to 50,000 roubles or an arrest for 15 days.

On 11 April, the court will consider the protocols on administrative offenses in relation to Chesnokov. Chesnokov will spend the night at the police station.

The previous administrative arrest of Chesnokov just ended on 8 April. The reason then was an unpaid fine for 800 roubles for violation of traffic rules.

In addition, on 10 April, Alexei Kuznetsov, Deputy Chairman of the Arkhangelsk branch of Yabloko, who participated in an anti-garbage demonstration and rally in Arkhangelsk on 7 April, was detained and taken to court. The Oktyabrsky District Court of Arkhangelsk fined the activist 16,000 roubles. The court found him guilty of violating Article 20.2 Part 6.1 of the Administrative Code (“Participation in an unsanctioned rally that hindered the movement of vehicles and pedestrians”). Alexei Kuznetsov intends to appeal the decision of the court in a higher instance.

Photo: Alexei Kuznetsov

The Oktyabrsky District Court will consider the second protocol in relation to Kuznetsov on 11 April, at 11:00. He will be charged violation of Article 20.2 Part 5 of the Administrative Code (“Violation by a participant of a public event of the established procedure”). The activist may face a fine of 10,000 to 20,000 roubles or mandatory work for up to 40 hours.

The Arkhangelsk branch of Yabloko has been fighting against the plans of officials to create a landfill in Shies, where the garbage from Moscow will be stored. Alexei Kuznetsov is the coordinator of the  protest action that is intended for unlimited period of time.  From November 2018, residents of the region go on one-person pickets (that do not require a permission from the authorities) to the regional government office demanding to ban the importation of Moscow garbage into the territory of the Arkhangelsk region.

On 7 April, a rally was held in Arkhangelsk against the construction of a landfill near Shies station. Despite the fact that the regional authorities refused to give a permission for the protest action, about 3,000 people came to the square. Activists announced that the protest in Lenin Square would last for unlimited period of time and refused to leave the square, but the police broke up the people who tried to stay in the square.

On 10 April, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Arkhangelsk fined seven people who participated in the rally of 7 April. All of them were fined 15,000 – 200,000 roubles.

The Yabloko party offers an alternative waste treatment programme Clean Russia. The programme will allow by 2030 to recycle up to 70 per cent of household garbage, reduce the amount of garbage being buried in landfills by 80 per cent and create more than 250,000 jobs.