Journalist of "Astrakhanskaya Pravda" intends to challenge judge's decision

Alexander Kirpichenko, the journalist of the "Astrakhanskaya Pravda" (Astrakhan Truth), the activist of the CPRF (Communist Party of the Russian Federation), disagrees with the decision of the magistrate, who fined him in the administrative case for violation of the established order of the rally held on December 24, 2011, in Astrakhan. Alexander Kirpichenko intends to challenge the court's ruling at the higher court. Supporters of the journalist believe that his detention and the trial had political background.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 24, 2011, Astrakhan hosted unsanctioned rally against falsified elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation. After gathering in Lenin Square, demonstrators, as planned, went to the building of the Regional Election Commission. At least 300 persons came there.

Alexander Kirpichenko was detained after the rally. He was charged of violation of the established order of the meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picket (under Article 02.20 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation). On January 10, 2012, the magistrate of the judicial precinct No. 2 of the Kirov District of the city of Astrakhan Kirpichenko found Alexander Kirpichenko guilty and fined him for the amount of 500 roubles.

Since, in accordance with the requirements of the law, meetings of voters and deputies (and Alexander Kirpichenko and his supporters argued that it had been namely a meeting of a deputies with voters, - note of the "Caucasian Knot") are conducted indoor and not organized spontaneously, the court came to the conclusion that Alexander Kirpichenko participated near the building of the Central Election Commission (CEC) in Astrakhan in a public event an unsanctioned rally with the poster.

Participants of the rally in Lenin Square of the city of Astrakhan and meeting of voters and deputies near the Regional Election Commission, held on December 24, 2011, do not agree with the court's decision.

Alexander Kirpichenko himself has repeatedly stated that his detention was ordered by political reasons.

He points out that his detention took place after the event, when he went home and had nothing in his hands.

According to the witness Yaroslav Savin, at the event near the Regional Election Commission, posters were raised for a split second during formation of a group of people, coming to the new meeting place and were immediately removed at police's request.

Rinat Kinzhuvaev, another witness, saw how Alexander Kirpichenko together with all people raised frameworks from shield with inscriptions; however, he failed to read the inscription, since a policeman requested to remove it, and then all people dropped their shields and did not raised them anymore.

Oleg Shein, the deputy of the Duma of the Astrakhan Region, stated that "if after police officers warned the people that they were not allowed to raise posters and Alexander Kirpichenko did not raise it anymore, his actions could not be treated as violations of the law requirements."