Astrakhan detainees complain about use of force

The participants in the protest action before the inauguration of Russian President, detained in Astrakhan, state that they were detained with the use of violence.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 5, in Astrakhan, during the action "He's not our tsar!", 24 marchers were detained.

According to one of participants of the action Abudin Mustafaev, during detention and later, during interrogation, he was exposed to physical violence.

"It happened when I said about Article 51 of the Russian Constitution, by which I have the right not to testify against myself. The man who questioned me took me 'by the scruff' of my jacket and punched my face with his other hand, hitting my lip," Mustafaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Yaroslav Savin, a member of the "Parnas" Party, said about the use of force by people in uniform, who had detained him: "They dragged and pushed us; and in the paddy wagon I even ripped my side against the door."

He does not know under which article he was detained.

"During the so-called 'march', we had no posters, only Russian flags; they assert that there were calls for a march, but it's not true. I personally didn't hold and shout anything at detention; I was just standing. But if they charge me with organization of an unauthorized march or participation therein, I'll sue them up to the ECtHR [European Court of Human Rights]," Mr Savin has concluded.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.