Law enforcers search "EcoWatch" and Krasnodar activists

Today, searches were conducted in the office of the "Ecological Watch for North Caucasus" (EcoWatch) and in the home of activists Leonid and Marina Zaprudin, Andrei Rudomakha, the "EcoWatch" coordinator, Arina Lisovets, an eco-activist, have reported.

Andrei Rudomakha suffered during the search. According to his story, law enforcers cut off the gate and the door of the house, where the office of the "EcoWatch" is located, grabbed the activist and sprayed some gas into his face. "I called an ambulance; doctors have just left; my mucous membranes are burned. I was very rudely tied up," Mr Rudomakha told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, adding that he plans to file a complaint against law enforcers' actions.

Andrei has also noted that the search had to do with the initiation of a criminal case against Alexander Saveliev, a member of the "EcoWatch" for participation in the "Open Russia"*, an undesirable organization.

Searches were also conducted in the house of Saveliev's parents in Ust-Labinsk, as well as at home of activists Zaprudins, Arina Lisovets has added.

A criminal case was initiated against Alexander Saveliev, a journalist of the edition "South. MBKh Media", for cooperation with an undesirable organization, said Alexei Pryanishnikov, the coordinator of the "Advocacy Postcards". "Policemen came to hold searches to (Krasnodar) activists – Leonid and Marina Zaprudin. According to their story, during the reading out of the search resolution, they were informed about the initiation of the case against Saveliev," the "Meduza" quotes Mr Pryanishnikov as saying today.

*The activities of the two organizations, registered in the UK, and containing the words "Open Russia" in their titles, are recognized undesirable in Russia by the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO).

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 30, 2019 at 11:39 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.