Press Release, 19.06.2014

On the threshold of the court hearings of the appeal on the “first wave” of the Bolotnaya Square rally case the activists of Youth YABLOKO from the Krasnodar Territory, North Ossetia, Stavropol, Ekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow conducted a series of one-person pickets in support of the Bolotnaya prisoners.

Alan Alikov: only public support can defend the innocent. Freedom to Bolotnaya prisoners!

The activists from North Ossetia Alan Alikov and Chair of Stavropol Youth YABLOKO Kirill Bobro were detained by police. One-person pickets do not need any permits from the authorities, thus arrests were absolutely unlawful.

Alan Alikov said he had been surrounded by ten police officers who had forced him into a police car. According to the police officers, the reason for the arrest was supposedly an anonymous complaint. The activist was taken to a police department where he was ordered to give evidence. Alikov was released only after he wrote an explanatory where he said he had been holding a one-person picket in accordance with the federal law No 54.

“I think such a tough reaction on behalf of law enforcement to a peaceful lawful expression of my civil position in Vladikavkaz is connected with the fright of federal authorities after the events at Maidan, Ukraine, in 2013-2014. I’ve participated in protest actions in Vladikavkaz many times before and police officers didn’t take much interest in it. The events that take place in Russia at the moment are only the beginning of tightening of screws and toughening of federal legislation. But I’m member of the YABLOKO party and stand for united, free and democratic Russia,” commented Alan Alikov.

Chair of Stavropol Youth Yabloko Kirill Bobro was also detained by police even before he managed to roll out a placard. The activist connects his arrests with Vladimir Putin’s working visit to Stavropol on that day. So, Kirill Bobro had to protest for freedom to Bolotnaya prisoners at a police department.
The pickets in the other regions took place without incidents.

Stanislav Gavrin from Nizhny Novgorod

Kirill Bobro: freedom to Bolotnaya prisoners

Alexandr Korovayny from the Krasnodar Territory