In Sochi, human rights activist again asks militia to check threats he receives

On November 8, Sergey Basmanov, director of the human rights organization "Defence of Citizens' Rights and Interests", again filed an application to the Khosta UVD (Interior Division) of Sochi about the threats that continue to arrive to him as SMS messages. He did not rule out that the persons who intimidate him may be connected with the militia.

Let us remind you that on November 5, 2010, at 1:03 a.m. Basmanov received an SMS to his mobile phone from the number 79628784557 reading: "Hmm guy life teaches you nothing. Well with guys we'll deal with your upbringing ourselves. Wait!" (The Russian version was quite illiterate, - note of the "Caucasian Knot"). On November 5 in the morning, Sergey Basmanov filed an application to the Khosta UVD demanding to take steps to stop threats against him.

However, on that very day, at 11:25 p.m. he received another SMS message from the same telephone number: "Friend, so shall we deal with your upbringing?" On November 6, he received a new SMS reading: "Well, what do you think, after your behaviour I have desire to communicate with you? You are deeply mistaken. We'll communicate otherwise."

In half an hour, a new message came: "My militia defends me, do they? Is it true?" The next SMS was: "We'll soon see how they defend."

Based on the text of the messages, Basmanov has not ruled out that "someone in the militia told the author of the threats" that he had filed an application to the UVD.

Despite the threats, Sergey Basmanov took part in the rally of Communists and spent almost the whole day at the trial of the former judge Dmitri Novikov, which lasted from morning till evening on November 8.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the Khosta UVD that the application of the human rights defender was accepted and registered. "It's at work," said a law enforcement officer.

Under the results of the checks, which under the law may last up to ten days, the issue of opening a criminal case will be considered.