In Volgograd, police detains six activists of movement "For Fair Elections"

In the centre of Volgograd, near the reception room of the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party, a gathering against the decision of the Russian State Duma on increasing fines for participation in public events was held. Activists of the movement "For Fair Elections" called on to dissolve the Parliament and to veto the draft law. According to organizers, six protestors were detained.

On June 5, the State Duma in two readings instantly adopted the draft law "On increasing fines for violations at rallies". Prior to the third reading, deputies of the "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" (Fair Russia) Party left the session room. As a result, the draft law gained 241 votes "pro" and 147 "contra". Today, the draft law was approved by the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. The document was sent to the President for his signature.

The rally in Volgograd was attended by about 10 persons, and the number of journalists and police officers was several times more. Andrei Sitsky, Chief of the Volgograd UVD (Interior Department), led the policemen, and he asked the protestors to leave the sidewalk free for pedestrian traffic. Nikolai Belikov, an activist of the movement "For Fair Elections", unfolded the poster reading: "Yesterday was shame of Russia".

"The day of June 5 was a shame of Russia, and all people, who see themselves as its citizens, should express their attitude to what has happened, including this way," said activist Leonid Makhinya. "The authorities do not realize that their law on rallies forces the legal street protests and legal street activities to go underground. And we stand for a legal fight."

The participants of the protest action were approached by Vladimir Efimov, Speaker of the Regional Parliament and Chief of the Regional Branch of the "Edinaya Rossiya" Party. He believes that "the law is adopted and we should keep it."