Press Release, 12.11. 2015

YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin demands to open a criminal case against the policemen who detained him on 7 November (the anniversary of the October Revolution – the Bolshevisks’ coup d’etat of 1917) during the action in memory of cadets and officers who fought against the Bolshviks in 1917.

Sergei Mitrokhin demands to open a criminal case against Police Captain Dmitry Kibalnichenko and Police Major Vyacheslav Sokolov in accordance with Article 286 of the Criminal Code “abuse of power” and an administrative offence case under Article 5.38 of the Administrative Offenses Code “obstructing citizens’ participation in public events”.

“The [police] officers violated the law on assemblies, meetings, demonstrations, marches and pickets. An action in memory of the defenders of democratic Russia was peaceful and was carried out in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation, ” said Boris Mamatov, the lawyer of Sergei Mitrokhin.

Boris Mamatov also sent an appeal to Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs, to conduct an official investigation on the actions and decisions of the police.

Sergei Mitrokhin was detained during the rally in memory of students of military schools (junkers) and officers fighting against Bolsheviks’ coup in 1917. Mitrokhin was putting a symbolic paper commemorative plaque on the wall the building where the junkers’ head quarters had been located. The police demanded that the plaque be removed, YABLOKO Chairman refused. Then the police used force and actually pushed Mitrokhin into their car. He was taken to the police department Arbat.

Administrative proceeding were initiated against Sergei Mitrokhin. The case was sent to the Presnensky District Court of Moscow, however, the judge and the date of the trial have not been appointed yet. Mitrokhin considers the accusations groundless.

On 15 November, the day of the creation of the Volunteer Army, YABLOKO is determined to complete the memory ceremony paying tribute to the fighters against Bolshevism that was broken by police on the 7th of November. The action will take place by the Gogol monument and will begin at 14:00.