Statement by the YABLOKO party, 01.05.2015
The YABLOKO party disapproves of inadequate actions of the Novosibirsk authorities who didn’t allow to conduct the Monstration, the annual art action – a demonstration under absurd slogans.

One of the organisers of the action Artyem Loskutiv was detained until the court hearing takes place and might face 15 days of arrest [UPD. he was given 10 days of arrest]. The application for conduction of the rally wasn’t authorized. Police prevented the Monstration column from joining YABLOKO at the demonstration organized by trade unions.

The responsibility for the demonstration crackdown is personally on governor of the Novosibirsk region and mayor of Novosibirsk Anatoly Lokot. The communists have once again brightly demonstrated that the Communist party is one of the party of power branches [the mayor of the city is member of the communist party].

The main theme of the Monstration this year was the protest against cansorship of art, against closing the Tangaser opera. The main slogans of the action was “Lord, forgive me” which emphasizes the absurd of closing the opera because it supposedly offended the religious feelings of believers.

The authorities have once again shown: they aren’t ready to endure the protest based on Article 14 of the Constitution which states that the Church is separated from the state.

We demand to immediately release Artyem Loskutov and bring the officials and police officers responsible for the crackdown of the action to responsibility.

Sergei Mitrokhin

YABLOKO Chairman