Organizer of rally in support of political prisoners released in Volgograd

Nikolai Cherniavskiy, an activist of the "Left-Wing Front", who was arrested on May 6 after a rally to demand freedom for political prisoners in Volgograd, is back at large.

On May 6, the arrest of the activist was reported by Valery Kotelnikov, a co-chairman of the regional branch of the "RPR-Parnas". Cherniavskiy, speaking at the rally, said, inter alia, that the situation of "intimidation of all dissidents" was introduced in Russia. After the rally, he was approached by law enforcers who asked him to go with them; and when the activist refused, he was detained.

According to Nikolai Cherniavskiy, the detention was due to his failure to pay the fine imposed on March 16. "For some reason, the policemen acted as court marshals," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

On March 16, a rally was held in Volgograd under the motto "No to policies of Governor Bozhenov!", during which policemen detained Cherniavskiy for unfolding uncoordinated posters. Then, the Volgograd City Court fined the activist by 15,000 roubles.

According to Cherniavskiy, he appealed against the ruling of the City Court. "The litigation lasted until May 6, when the trial was held, during which the judge ruled that the magistrate court had no right to deal with cases under this article; the penalty was cancelled; and the case will be considered by another instance," he said.