23:30, 17 March 2010

Political hunger strike declared by deputies in Astrakhan

In Astrakhan, a number of local deputies and journalists have gone on a hunger strike. In this way they protest against "political repressions and framed criminal cases against opposition activists."

The hunger strike is held in the office of the faction "Fair Russia" in the Regional Duma of the Astrakhan region. It is joined by Alexander Mikhailov, deputy of the Astrakhan region Duma from the "Fair Russia", Igor Negerev, regional Duma deputy from the CPRF, city Duma deputy Yevgeny Dunaev ("Fair Russia") and two journalists: LDPR member Vladimir Anikin and "SR" Oleg Teplischev. Later, the hunger strikers were joined by Oleg Shein, State Duma deputy.

Igor Negerev states that his prosecution by the authorities has started after he, in his TV program, described corruption within state bodies, reports the "Echo of Moscow."

The hunger strikers demand that a special commission of the General Prosecutor's Office should be sent to Astrakhan for checking some allegedly framed cases, reports GZT.RU.

So far, no representatives of authorities have commented on the action.