Woman of 75 detained in Sochi during picket near Putin's residence

The Sochi police have detained Lydia Lepsveridze, 75, during her solo picket near the summer residence of the President of the Russian Federation "Bocharov Ruchei". According to policemen, the woman has violated Part 5 of Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation – "Order of organizing or holding meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches or pickets."

Lydia Lepsveridze held her picket near the presidential residence, believing that courts were unfair, when depriving her of housing after her husband's death. The poster of her picket read: "Putin help! Corruption in Sochi!"

Along with Lydia Lepsveridze, her daughter Lyudmila Lukyankina, who was near her mother, was also detained.

"The summer residence of the Russian president is a regime guarded site; therefore, even solo picketing is forbidden there. The women were detained for compiling a protocol and bringing them to justice under Part 5, Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences; they were taken to the Tsentralny ROVD (District Interior Division)," Police Major Alexander Lyutik, a senior precinct police inspector, explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.