In Sochi, human rights activist Basmanov to hold solo picket at the Administration

After the city administration refused to sanction the human rights defenders' "March of Dissent" within the Movement "Strategy-31", Sergey Basmanov, director of the organization to protect constitutional rights of citizens, said that at 6:00-8:00 p.m. he would hold a solo picket.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported that in Sochi rights defenders were not allowed to hold their action under the pretext that in the square at the city administration they would be dismantling trade pavilions. The works, as bureaucrats had asserted, could endanger the life and health of the protesters.

"The administration's refusal was appealed against at the court on December 31," said human rights activist Basmanov. "However, Judge of the Tsentralny District Court of Sochi Anna Afonkina ruled against the protesters and supported the position of the administration."

Sergey Basmanov told that the members of his human rights organization decided not to waive their intentions; however, the action in defence of Article 31 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation would take place only in the form of a solo picket, not a rally.

"I'll go out by 6 in the evening to the city administration to hold my solo picket and will stay there till 8 p.m., as scheduled. No sanction is required for a solo picket. In the poster, which I will hold publicly, our organization will express, on behalf of the citizens who had suffered from the authorities and who address us, what we think about the top management of the Olympic capital," said Sergey.

Actions in defence of Article 31 of the Russian Constitution, which ensures citizens' right to freely and peacefully assemble to express their views, are held by the opposition in different cities of Russia on the 31st day of every month, which has this day.