Alexey Mandrigelya detained during the action of "burial of fair election" released

Alexey Mandrigelya, candidate for deputy of Legislative Assembly from "Yabloko"party in Krasnodar region, detained during a symbolic action of burial of fair election was released from the police department an hour and a half after detention.

"I was an observer at the election and encountered a great number of violations. I was sent away from the polling station after I noticed that in the batch of ballot-papers of "United Russia" there were other ballot-papers. My claim was not accepted by the court, therefore I came here today to light a candle in memory of the lost institution of election. Many people also came here to mourn", Alexey Mandrigelya declared. In spite of the fact that Mandrigelya did not become deputy, according to his certificate, he has a mandate of candidate valid until November, 14.

About five hours before the action the building was surrounded by patrols of the police and Cossacks and by 20:00, i.e. the time of beginning of the action, about 20 policemen, officers of the Ministry of Interior Affairs wearing civilian attire and Cossacks were on duty there. They stopped the activists on the way to the building of Administration. Mandrigelya, Mikhailov and Zolotarev were detained.

Colonel Alexander Pokhodenko, Chief of the unit for guarding law and order of Krasnodar Department of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, stopped the candidate for deputy of Legislative Assemblyat a quarter's distance to regional Administration when he was carrying a wreath. Pokhodenko declared that upon citizens' demand the procession would be stopped. Later the activists hid the wreath in a yellow bag and started for the Administration. There they lit candles which the officials of regional Administration and police estimated as an unauthorized public action.

Alexey Mandrigelya refused to follow to the police unit to give evidence and two policemen dragged him by his hands by force. Several times the candidate for deputy of Legislative Assembly fell down and was dragged along the pavement, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

"Mandrigelya was brought for drawing up a protocol of violation of the order of holding an action with mass participation of citizens. There were no signs of being a candidate on his face. He did not produce his certificate, colonel Alexander Papanov, Deputy Chief of Department of the Ministry of Interior Affairs in Krasnodar, said. - He explained that the activists gathered only for the purpose of holding a joint action".

While staying in the police unit Alexey Mandrigelya demonstrated his candidate's certificate and passport to the activists waiting for him stating that he had produced the documents to the policemen.

"Under the circumstances they have no right to detain a candidate who produced his certificate. Moreover, Papanov explained everyone that he was not detained but just delivered. However, he was delivered without his consent. The police personnel explained us that they suggested Mandrigelya to follow them but he refused after which he was carried to the police department by force", ViacheslavPotapov, member of municipal Election Committee of Krasnodar and Editor-in-Chief of TV program "Soviet Kuban", commented. He added that a candidate for deputy could be detained "only for committing a crime while in case of an administrative violation there was no need to take him to the police department, a protocol could be drawn up on-site".

According to the legislation in force, detention of a candidate is possible only if sanctioned by Public Prosecutor's office. "Public Prosecutor on duty said that the policemen did not detain Mandrigelya but invited him for a talk. A constructive talk has been going on for already 40 minutes as of the moment. Public Prosecutor promised that he would take measures, call his deputy and said that the situation was under control", Andrey Filimonov, Deputy Chairman of regional branch of "Yabloko" party, who was earlier present at the action commented.

"I refused to provide explanations, then I was told that I was free, - Mandrigelya himself said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. - The reason why they illegally detained me, used force and dragged me by the earth is incomprehensible to me". According to the activist, the wreath he took to the action was "confiscated as physical evidence". Mandrigelya is going to appeal against unlawful actions of the police and his detention.