Press Release, 12.03.2019

The Kuntsevo District Court of Moscow fined Sergei Mitrokhin, member of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko party, for 200,000 roubles for his meeting with residents of the Kuntsevo district who oppose the actions of the PIK Group of construction companies.

The residents are in a litigation with the PIK Group and the Moscow city authorities. The Supreme Court of Russia recognised as legitimate the construction of high-rise buildings by the PIK Group in Kuntsevo, thus rejecting the claim of 42 residents of the district. There is only one instance left for the residents – the Constitutional Court, but this is a long matter. Earlier, the residents of the district challenged in court a resolution of the Moscow government, according to which, 37 three- and five-storey residential buildings in Kuntsevo should be demolished, allegedly within the city reconstruction programme. These houses, according to the plaintiffs, are neither ramshackle nor dilapidated buildings. However, construction of high-rise buildings has already begun in the yards of three of these houses. Nevertheless, the residents are not going to give up.

“The court found me guilty of “repeated violation of the established procedure for organising or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, march or picket in accordance with Part 8 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code”,” Sergei Mitrokhin told to Business FM radio station.

Mitrokhin said he did not agree with the decision of the court and intended to appeal against it.

Mitrokhin also added that he did not regret his actions, since the construction was subsequently suspended, and the authorities offered the PIK Group to resettle people first and only then begin construction.

Last year, Mitrokhin received two large fines. On 29 November, 2018, the court fined him 150,000 roubles after his meeting with residents of Kuntsevo on 12 September. And on 26 December, 2018, the Presnensky Court of Moscow ruled out that Mitrokhin should pay a fine of 75,000 roubles for conducting a “public inspection” of the Solovey (Nightingale) cinema in Krasnaya Presnya district which the authorities planned to demolish stating that the building was “dilapidated”. However, Mitrokhin and public activists did not find any signs of “dilapidation” in the building.

Sergei Mitrokhin announced fundraising so that to be able to pay the fines.