Mayor's office of Krasnodar refused permission of a picket in defense of convicted human rights activist Pavel Cherevatov

A non-governmental organization "Grass Roots" filed an application of holding a picket in defense of convicted human rights activist Pavel Cherevatov in Krasnodar. The Mayor's office refused granting the application. The organizers consider this refusal groundless and do not give up their plans of holding the action of protest. 

It emerged that all the eight points suggested by the organizers had already been requested by other persons for holding public actions on precisely the same day and the same time. 

Human rights activist Vadim Karastelev, expert of Novorossiisk Committee of Human Rights, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the organizer of the picket had suggested the Administration of Krasnodar eight different points for consideration. 

"However, judging by the reply received from the Department of PR, Cossacks' an Servicemen's Affairs of Krasnodar, all the eight points suggested had already been requested by other persons for holding a number of public actions on precisely the same day and the same time (May, 27, 15:00 to 17:00)", Karastelev said. 

The human rights activists consider that this refusal is an illegitimate one and just one more demonstration of the authorities' preconceived attitude towards the matter. They have not given up the idea of the picket. 

According to Vadim Karastelev, Krasnodar non-governmental organization "Grass Roots" asks all the people of good will to render assistance in informing public at large of non-observance of the rights of resident of Krasnodar Pavel Cherevatov and evidently biased attitude of Krasnodar authorities towards the citizens who in correspondence with the law wish to publically express their peaceful protest against violation of their fellow-townsman's rights guaranteed by the Constitution and other laws of the Russian Federation.

Vadim Karastelev considers that "Cherevatov's case" is based on rather doubtful facts which demand proper investigation, however, at the moment he must be saved from the danger for his life he encounters in custody. 

"He was sentenced to serving six years of custody in a colony on a forged accusation after he exposed a number of infringements of the law committed by the personnel of Abinsk District Department of Interior Affairs. Vladimir Finko who before 2005 was holding the office of Chief of District Department of Interior Affairs in the infamous stanitsa of Kushevskaya is now Chief of Abinsk District Department of Interior Affairs", Karastelev said. 

Pavel Mikhailovich Cherevatov born in 1950, labour veteran, Head of Abinsk Human rights Center, was accused of causing bodily harm to an employee of a temporary detention centre. Criminal cases have been initiated in Krasnodar district against him which brought him to an investigative isolation ward and temporary detention centre where according to his wife he was beaten up and also infected with tuberculosis. He was sentenced to 5,5 years of custody, now he has 2,5 years to serve left. He is currently in an investigative isolation ward in Novorossiisk. 

Pavel Cherevatov, beside tuberculosis, suffers from a number of long-term illnesses worsening during the past several weeks. He has been experiencing problems with walking for several days. In the healthcare and correctional facility No 8 where he is undergoing "treatment" he is getting no due medical aid. He has formerly reported beating up by unidentified persons. Pavel Mikhailovich and his wife Valentina Mikhailovna receive replies beside the point", Vadim Karastelev said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. 

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent failed to get any comments from Krasnodar administration of management of Abinsk District Department of Interior Affairs. Official inquiries have been sent to these offices.