Press Release, 4.02.2021

Photo by Artyom Mokhov

Yabloko party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov demanded that Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Tatarstan Ildus Nafikov find and punish the law enforcement officers who, during the rally, unreasonably and toughly detained about 50 protesters.

The Yabloko Chairman recalled that on January 31, 2021, officers of the security forces unreasonably used brutal force against a group of citizens who gathered by the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences. During the detention, the protesters were seated or laid on the snow for a long time, and their hands were pulled behind their backs. Abusive statements and actions were made against the detainees, and protective masks were torn off from them.

“It is unacceptable that law enforcement officers humiliate citizens or threaten their life and health,” Nikolai Rybakov said.

“Such actions on the part of the security services violate the Constitution of the Russian Federation, according to which all Russian citizens have the right to hold peaceful assembly, rallies, processions and pickets. In accordance with Article 21 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation “no one should be subjected to torture, violence, or other cruel or degrading treatment or punishment,” the Yabloko party leader emphasised.

Yabloko demands that the Public Prosecutor of Tatarstan identify and punish the officers of the security forces guilty of the use of unjustified violence and humiliation of the detained citizens, as well as take all necessary measures to release the unjustifiably detained on January 31, 2021, and stop their prosecution. The Office of the Public Prosecutor’ of Tatarstan should take all the necessary measures so that the law enforcement agencies bring an official apology to the citizens.