Volgograd court cancels fine of activist of "For Fair Elections"

Today, the Central District Court of Volgograd cancelled the decision of the magistrate court on imposing a fine of 800 roubles on Nikolai Belikov, who participated in the gathering, held on June 6 against the decision of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on increasing penalties for unsanctioned protest actions.

"The court invited a police officer, who completed the protocol; however, he did not come," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Ruslan Alekseev, the activist of the movement "For Fair Elections".

"Those MPs, who attended the gathering, said that no detentions would take place, since 'you did not commit anything illegal'," said Nikolai Belikov. He continued: "As soon as the gathering ended, detention started. When I got acquainted with the materials of the case, it turned out, that the protocol on administrative violation contained corrections. The word 'gathering' was replaced by the word 'picketing'. The corrections were not properly verified."

Nikolai Belikov intends to participate in rallies and pickets in the future. "The new law on rallies represents one of the nuts, which even more strictly tightened our society. I believe that the situation will get worse; however, I have no fear. Participation in the gathering was my civil impulse," he has explained.