Nikita Arkin, Yabloko candidate in Moscow municipal elections, arrested for five days under the charges leading to a ban on participation in elections
Press Release, 27.08.2022
Photo: Police van which took Nikita Arkin to court / Photo by Nikolai Kavkazsky
The Basmanny Court of Moscow sent Nikita Arkin, a candidate for municipal deputies from Yabloko in the Basmanny district, under arrest. Arkin was accused of “demonstrating extremist symbols” (Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses which leads to ban on participation in the elections).
On 26 August, Nikita Arkin was detained by the police. Arkin was charged with creating a leaflet with the logo of Alexei Navalny’s Headquarters, the organisation recognised by the Russian authorities as extremist. The evidence underlying the accusation was falsified. The leaflet had been made by unidentified persons specifically to remove Arkin from the elections, like ten other Yabloko candidates charged with “demonstrating extremist symbols” (Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
Nikita Arkin spent a day at the police station before the trial. He still has four more days of arrest to serve as punishment.
On 25 August, Nikolai Kasyan, a candidate for deputy from Yabloko in the Khamovniki district in Moscow, also received five days of arrest under the same article.
Moscow municipal elections will be held on 11 September.
Read more about the persecution of Yabloko members after the start of the “special operation”.
Posted: August 29th, 2022 under Elections, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Moscow Municipal Elections 2022, Regional and Local Elections, Regional and Local Elections 2022, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.