In Novocherkassk, activist of "Left-Wing Front" arrested in anticipation of "March of Millions"

In the city of Novocherkassk of the Rostov Region, on the eve of the "March of Millions", which is to be held on September 15 in Rostov-on-Don, Oleg Prudnikov, an activist of the "Left-Wing Front", has been arrested for five days. Oppositionists of the city of Taganrog also claim that they are being visited by police officers at their houses, who warn them of the illegality of the meeting of September 15.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Valentina Tolmacheva and Svetlana Sviderskaya, civil society activists of Rostov-on-Don, submitted a notification to the administrations of the city and of the Kirov District about the action "March of Millions" to be held on September 15. The administration of Rostov-on-Don offered the oppositionists to start the "March of Millions" in the city on September at 08:00 a.m. and to hold the rally at 09:30-10:30 Moscow time in the square in front of the Don Public Library. In response to the letter, the oppositionists of Rostov-on-Don declared their intention to hold single pickets on September 15.

"On the eve of All-Russian 'March of Millions' in Rostov-on-Don, a pressure on potential participants of the action was started: in particular, it was reported that in the evening of September 12, in Novocherkassk, Oleg Prudnikov, the activist of the 'Left-Wing Front', was detained. At about 10:30 p.m. Moscow time, Oleg Prudnikov left his house to put money to the account of his mobile phone, and he was detained in the yard by police officers, who ran out of a civilian car, which stood in the yard. During the detention, the police officers used force against Oleg Prudnikov, since the activist said that he suspected his right hand got dislocated," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Vladislav Ryazantsev, the coordinator of the "Left-Wing Front" in the Rostov Region.

According to him, the detained oppositionist was brought to the city police station No. 2, and there the police officers completed a protocol on administrative violation under Part 2 of Article 1.20 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation "Petty hooliganism". "Today, at 11:00 a.m. Moscow time, he was brought to the magistrate court of Novocherkassk. To protest against police arbitrariness, Oleg Prudnikov went on a dry hunger strike. He called and said that he was arrested for five days under Article 'Petty hooliganism'," Vladislav Ryazantsev said. He has added that was the third arrest of the activist for the last six weeks.

According to oppositionists from Taganrog, police officers have also begun to visit participants of the protest action of September 15. "We know that on September 12, at least three Taganrog residents were visited at their homes and working places by the police officers in uniform and in civilian clothes, who in all cases stated that 'the rally was not sanctioned' and that the persons 'would be imposed a heavy fine in case of their participation in the rally.' Besides, the police officers threatened the citizens by 'troubles' at their working and studying places. At the same time, the police officers refused to present their IDs. Meanwhile, the notification on conducting a picket in Taganrog within the "March of Millions" was filed in due time, and the organizers are waiting for the answer the administration until the end of the day," said an activist of the opposition movement in Taganrog, who preferred to remain anonymous.