Astrakhan hosts picket in support of colonel accused of terrorism

On March 19, activists held a picket in Astrakhan in defence of Vladimir Kvachkov, a former GRU (Russian Military Intelligence) colonel, accused of preparing an armed rebellion and terrorism. The protesters treated the actions of the authorities as repressions.

Colonel Kvachkov was arrested in 2005 on charges of attempted murder of Anatoly Chubais, the then head of the RAO UES (Russian United Energy Systems). He spent three years in custody, and then the jury acquitted him. In 2010, the Russia's Supreme Court upheld the acquittal. Soon Kvachkov was arrested again on charges of terrorism and preparation of armed insurrection.
The picketers held posters "Freedom to Colonel Kvachkov!" and "Hands off Kvachkov!" During the action, the protesters disseminated leaflets, which explained, what Colonel Kvachkov was tried for.

"I came to the picket in support of Colonel Vladimir Kvachkov, because I consider him to be a political prisoner, persecuted for his political beliefs and because he's a threat to the government," Alexander Tokarev, a member of the Bureau of the Astrakhan Regional Committee of the CPRF, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "For me Kvachkov is in the same row with Khodorkovsky."

The picket in support of the disgraced colonel passed without incidents. The event was attended by no more than 20 persons. Three policemen were on duty near the action.