Court fines person, detained at protest action in Rostov-on-Don, by 20,000 roubles

In Rostov-on-Don, court fined one of the persons, detained at the protest action, which was held within the All-Russian "March of Millions". The trials against three more detainees were postponed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 15, in Rostov-on-Don, the police detained four persons for an attempt, according to law enforcement agents, to organize an unsanctioned rally in the central part of the city. The detainees claimed their intention to ask the court to postpone trial on their cases for a week to get prepared for defence. Besides, they have also stated that they treat their detentions as unlawful and they reported delay of the transfer of the case of their administrative violations from the police department to the court.

"We have written motions on postponement of the court sessions and the appointment of a public defender; however, we were not allowed to meet the secretary of the judge to file our motions. By deception, Anatoly Zakurdaev, one of the defendants, had been led into the room of court hearings, where the court immediately pronounced the decision to fine him 20,000 roubles," described the situation in the court Valentina Tolmacheva, a participant of single pickets, held on September 15 in Rostov-on-Don.

According to Elena Belan, accused of holding a public event on that very day, "Anatoly Zakurdaev does not understand the laws, and he was in a hurry."

"It happened so that he came first. Not understanding at all what was happening to him, he even did not show the motion. He said that he had repair works at his house and that he was in a hurry. And that rush has played a trick on him. The judge fined him 20,000 roubles. He left a copy of the court decision and stated that he would challenge the decision with the help of attorney and lawyer, who agreed to provide us with legal assistance," said Elena Belan. She has added that the pronounced court decision "indulge all other defendants in a shock".

"I politely and correctly told the judge about my motions and gave them to her. The first motion to postpone the court session was granted by the judge. With regard to the second motion to appoint a public defender for me the judge stated that the motion should be filed at the next court session, which was scheduled with regard to me for September 25. The trial against Svetlana Sviderskaya was postponed till September 27, and the trial against Boris Papayan, accused of the same administrative violations, was postponed till September 24," Elena Belan said.

Anatoly Zakurdaev was unavailable for the comments.