Human rights defenders report seven arrested after rallies in Anapa and Novorossiysk

In Novorossiysk, 21 people were detained after the protest action on January 31. Of them, five were arrested, and the rest were fined. In Anapa, at least two activists were arrested. This was reported by Marina Dubrovina, a lawyer from the "Agora" human rights group. The lawyer has also announced her intention to challenge the court decisions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 31, cities of Russia, including in the south of the country, hosted protests of people dissatisfied with the policy of the authorities. The police detained not only protesters, but also journalists and passers-by.

According to Marina Dubrovina, the lawyer from the "Agora" human rights group, 21 people were detained in Novorossiysk. The detentions began after the rally, when people were crossing a road or walking along parallel streets where no march took place.

"All the detainees were brought to a police station. Police inspectors were watching the video records from the march. If they noticed a detained person on the video, they drew up a protocol against him and kept him overnight," Marina Dubrovina told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to the lawyer, of those detained in Novorossiysk, five persons were arrested, while the rest were sentenced to fines and compulsory labour. The lawyer has also added that she intends to file appeals against the court's decisions.

Marina Dubrovina also represents the interests of the people detained at the rally in Anapa. "The police arrested two young men. One was taken into custody for seven days for organizing the protest action, and the other –for 10 days for petty hooliganism: police inspectors wrote in a protocol that he was using obscene language in the square," Marina Dubrovina reported.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 5, 2021 at 03:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.