In Astrakhan, Oleg Shein stops his hunger strike

Today, Oleg Shein, an ex-candidate for the Mayor of Astrakhan and a member of the "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" (Fair Russia) Party, has announced his withdrawal from the political protest hunger strike.

On April 20, a flash mob was held in Astrakhan; and four participants were detained. On April 21, in Astrakhan, detentions also were made at the rally in support of Oleg Shein. On April 23, Shein announced the end of the mass hunger strike; however, he and several of his supporters were going to continue their action until all the detainees were released.

Today, all the detainees were released; among them: Alexander Kirpichenko, Vladimir Buzarov and Alexei Gorshkolepov, whose term was to be over at 10 p.m. on April 24, but he was released this morning by the court ruling in the context of the appeal filed by the opposition, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

"All the conditions for the end of the hunger strike have been satisfied. We stop our protest action," said Oleg Shein.

According to Oleg Shein, the oppositionists are happy with the long-awaited end of the hunger strike. "All are in very good mood," he stated.