Picket in memory of Markelov and Baburova in St Petersburg was 200 persons strong

About 200 persons came to commemorate lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova, assassinated two years ago in St Petersburg.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the picket "Together against Fascism" in St Petersburg, organized by human rights activists, was dated to the second anniversary of the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova committed on January 19, 2009, in Moscow.

The action took place in Troitskaya Square, where the Solovki Boulder is installed in memory of the victims of political repressions. People brought flowers and lit candles. With the help of a projector the organizers screened the film about the slain lawyer and journalist. Several dozens of militiamen guarded the order; no violations were recorded, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

The picketers held photos of Markelov and Baburova; no speeches were pronounced, because any sound-amplifying equipment was banned. It was reported earlier that the organizers failed to get a permit for the action.

"These are not the first obstacles and difficulties with coordination of actions that we're having. Although same bureaucrats readily agreed to the action of nationalists on January 15 at the 'Yubileiny' Sports Palace - in full, in the form of a rally, and in response to the notification also dated December 31. However, our activists, involved in preparation of an anti-fascist rally, were yesterday detained by the militia; information materials, specially printed by January 19, were confiscated from one of them. That is why it is so important to remind about those who fell victim of neo-fascism in Russia and to protest against Nazi violence in the society and against the policy of the authorities, who restrict the freedom of anti-fascists and encourage nationalistic moods," the "Novaya Gazeta" quotes Valery Smirnov, a participant of the anti-fascist movement.