Press release, February 5, 2014

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demands from Public Prosecutor General Yury Chaika to launch public prosecutor’s investigation into the actions of the Sluzhba Basya company which allegedly has been engaged in unlawful mass killings of homeless dogs and cats in Sochi. Mitrokhin states that such activities must be examined for falling under Article 245 of the Criminal Code (“Cruelty to Animals”), and actions of the client of the company as falling under Article 286 of the Criminal Code (“Abuse of Power “).

As reported by local residents, the administration of Sochi, adopted a decision on mass trapping and removal of stray animals from the city, but did not resort to the services of proven organizations with good business reputation and disposing of tested methods of non-lethal treatment of animals. Instead, they turned to a Sluzhba Basya (Basya Service) company.

Hiding behind the attractive name, the company has been doing terrible things. Eyewitnesses reported that the employees of this company were killing dogs and cats using blowguns and darts that may contain prohibited muscle relaxants.

“I was walking with my daughter past the railway station early in the morning, when a dog ran shrieking with a dart in its side and fell near our feet, writhing in agony. And after that a man came up and took the dog by the tail and dragged it into his car. I and my child were shocked and we could not recover from it for a long time,” said local resident Irina Drozdova.

The above indicated actions of OOO Sluzhba Basya contradict to the Civil Code. According to the legal norms, there is a ban on the instant killing of an animal, because it may belong to someone, thus the animal must be kept at the shelter for six months. For this period a dog or a cat formally remain the property of their owners.