Moscow hunger-strikers in support of Oleg Shein stop their action

The participants of the Moscow solidarity hunger strike have decided to stop their action, after Oleg Shein's statement that he would quit his hunger strike as soon his supporters, arrested for staging a flash mob "For Fair Elections", were released.

Before April 21, there were three hunger-strikers in Moscow – the civil activist Irina Kalmykova, journalist Igor Bakirov and student Inna Zhukova. Kalmykova was hunger-striking for 13 days, from the beginning of the action in support of Oleg Shein, while Bakirov and Zhukova began their hunger strike only on April 19.

The decision to stop the action in Moscow was taken on April 21 after a call from Oleg Shein, who said that the further decision on the legitimacy of the election would be taken by the court.

According to Igor Bakirov, the aim of the hunger strike – cancellation of the Mayor election in Astrakhan – was not reached, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

"I feel a slight disappointment; we haven't gone to the end. Oleg has made his choice; and since we had announced a hunger strike in support of Astrakhan, we now stop our action," said Bakirov.

The participants of the Moscow hunger strike do not question Oleg Shein's decision. "If he's found it necessary to do so, then, he had good reasons for it; and we act according to his decision," said Inna Zhukova.