Anatoly Zakurdaev, fined for participation in unsanctioned protest action in Rostov-on-Don, submits appeal

Anatoly Zakurdaev, who was fined for taking part in an unsanctioned protest action in Rostov-on-Don within the "March of Millions", filed an appeal. According to the UVD (Interior Department), the court issued an objective decision based on the video of the incident.

Anatoly Zakurdaev: I bought ice cream and was walking along Bolshaya Sadovaya Street, where I saw rally

"On September 17, at the magistrate court, after hours of waiting for the beginning of the court session, I went to the secretariat to submit motions, which I wrote with the help of a lawyer. However, I was immediately brought to the courtroom to the judge. That was the first time when I appeared in the court, I did not know what and how I should do, and, therefore, I even forgot about my motions. The judge asked me whether I trusted her. I said I did. Then she asked me whether I need a lawyer. I answered to her question that, probably, I did not. In general, I thought that no court session had begun. After that, the judge fined me 20,000 roubles. I did not expect that. Earlier, I read that the fine could be not more than 1000 roubles. However, the judge told me that the Administrative Code had been changed long ago," Anatoly Zakurdaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. He has added that he tried to persuade the judge to reduce the fine or even to tear all the documents.

"I told her that I got bad feet. I even showed her that I wore medical socks and that I was sick. And I told her that in Moscow I had my sick 'non-ambulant' wife, who had to lie in bed. However, the judge did not care. I even asked her to tear all the documents and make pretend that nothing had happened; however, she got terribly indignant at my offer. And I started to tell her that he had never and nowhere attend any rallies. I told her that had never and was not a member of any parties and movements and that even in Soviet times I had never been a pioneer. In general, on that day (on September 15, when the protest action within the 'March of Millions' was held in Rostov-on-Don, note of the "Caucasian Knot"), I bought an ice cream and I was walking along Bolshaya Sadovaya Street. I saw a rally, and I approached it to ask what was happening there. And at present, I have to pay the fine of 20,000 roubles," Anatoly Zakurdaev described the circumstances of the situation.

When asked by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent whether he had money to pay the fine, Anatoly Zakurdaev said that he "would pay the fine from pension money."

"Well, I am not a poor man! I will pay the fine from my pension. I have a pension of about 15,000 roubles a month... I am sick of the court, I got tired already. It is easier to pay the fine to ensure that they will leave me along," the penalized man said.

However, despite his doubts, Anatoly Zakurdaev filed the appeal against the court decision.