| On July 13 activists of the Youth Yabloko in different
Russian cities conducted a solidarity action with their young
colleagues from Ekaterinburg and Moscow who had been detained
for anti-government slogans done in chalk on the pavement.
The trials are scheduled on July 27 in Ekaterinburg and July
15 in Moscow.
The action began in Ekaterinburg on June 30, when young YABLOKO
activists wrote in chalk on the pavement "This government
must go!" during the ruling United Russia party concert.
Boris Gryzlov, Speaker of the State Duma speaker and United
Russia Chair had to be present at the concert. Young YABLOKO
activists Anastasya Zheltisheva and Eugeni Mezentsev wrote
in chalk on the pavement "This government must go!"
not far from the concert venue. They were detained by police
for “unauthorized advertising”. The trial was postponed until
July 27 due to controversies in the policemen’s testimonies.
Activists of the Chelyabinsk Youth Yabloko conducted an action
by the ruling United Russia’s office. Young Yabloko activists
wrote in chalk on the pavement in front of the ruling party’s
office slogans "This government must go," "Go
away!" and "This government does not need us."
In addition, activists wrote "Killer of Forests"
by the gates of the office of the Chelyabinsk Region Government
addressing it to Governor Mikhail Yurevich, who had been trying
to cut down a relic forest in the Chelyabinsk city, paving
the way through it to the elite cottages village (with the
Governor’s country cottage).
The participants of the action also chanted their slogans.
Passers-by expressed their support to Yabloko and stopped
to read the slogans asking about the action.
In St.Petersburg young Yabloko activists also wrote in chalk
the slogan "This government must go!" by the United
Russia St.Petersburg office. Also, a popular among bloggers
nick-name of the United Russia - "The party of thieves"
- was written on the pavement. The police do not interfere
with the action.
In Penza Youth Yabloko activists wrote their slogan in front
of the City Administration and by the main office of United
Russia in the city.
The police gave the most aggressive reaction in Moscow, where
three activists (Kirill Goncharov, Gleb Sitnikov and Sophia
Rusova) were detained for the same slogan written in chalk
by United Russia’s Executive Committee office.
The police used violence during arrest, however, failed to
explain why they were detaining the young people. Already
in the police station they were charged with "violation
of the established order of organising or holding a meeting,
rally, demonstration, procession or picket".
Photographs:
Photo: Action in Penza
Photo: Action in Chalyabinsk
Photo: Action in Odintzovo, Moscow region
Photo: Action in Moscow
Photo: Action in Ulyanovsk
Photo: Action in St.Petersburg
See also:
Young YABLOKO’s
activists arrested for writing on the pavement with chalk
“This government should resign!” in front of the ruling party's
office. Press Release, July 13, 2011
Freedom
of Assembly
Freedom
of Speech
Human
Rights
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