Sergey Udaltsov, coordinator of "Left-Wing Front" fined by 2000 roubles for protest action near Russian State Duma

Sergey Udaltsov, the coordinator of the "Left-Wing Front", who went on a hunger strike in solidarity with the Astrakhan opposition activists, who do not recognize the results of the mayoral elections, was detained by police near the building of the State Duma in Moscow. Later, the Magistrate Court fined Sergey Udaltsov by 2000 roubles for attempting to hold an unsanctioned rally near the State Duma.

"Sergey continues his hunger strike in support of Oleg Shein; however, that fact does not prevent him from moving around the city. It was planned to hold a protest action "White Duma" near the State Duma, which was expected to involve about 100 persons. There were no posters, it was just planned as a gathering with white ribbons," stated Anastasia Udaltsova, the wife of Sergey Udaltsov.

She clarified that her husband with his associates from the movement "Solidarnost" (Solidarity) came out of the subway, when they were approached by policemen, who detained them.

"As a result, the policemen brought them to the OVD (Interior Division), completed protocols and brought the detainees to court," told Anastasia Udaltsova the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Walking on any sidewalk of the city, if it is not a sensitive facility, is not prohibited; so, I do not understand why my actions are being treated as violation of conducting a rally," said at the trial Sergey Udaltsov. He asked the judge to close the case.

In his turn, policeman Andrei Goryshin, who detained Sergey Udaltsov, informed the court that the opposition activist "tried to hold a picket, and, in fact, he was even holding a picket, gathering a group of citizens." According to him, the clothes of those citizens bore symbols white ribbons, the "RAPSI" (Russian Agency of Legal and Judicial Information) reports.

"After Udaltsov was interviewed, he began to move to the State Duma, shouting: 'Shame on government!' and offering people to hold hands and walk together. After several warnings, the leader of the movement was detained," said Andrei Goryshin.

"Udaltsov was found guilty under Article "Violation of established order of conducting a rally" of the Administrative Code, and he was sentenced to a fine amounting to 2000 roubles," the "ITAR-TASS" quotes a representative of the court as saying.