Semyon Simonov released from Sochi police

Semyon Simonov, the coordinator of the network "Migration and Law" was released from the police after being held in the linear unit of the railway station of Adler for more than an hour. He said, with reference to power agents that his check was carried out within the framework of anti-terrorism exercises.

"I was on my way to the Adler railway station aiming to take an electric train to Sochi. Suddenly,  I was blocked by two men, who demanded my passport without presenting themselves. I asked about their arguments. They began explaining that some antiterrorism exercises were held in the territory. I asked about the connection of the exercises with my passport. Since no legitimate grounds for checking my documents were presented, I said that I refuse to give them my documents," Semyon Simonov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

After that, according to Simonov, he was asked to go to the police station, where he was held for about an hour, without explaining and asking anything.

As commented by the lawyer Alexander Popkov, the policemen and FSB agents had illegally treated Semyon Simonov by refusing to present the reason for checking his documents.

"According to the Russian Federal Law 'On Police', policemen have the right to check documents, if it is known for sure that the person has committed an offense, or someone has indicated this person as a perpetrator. Semyon Simonov had acted correctly in this situation, while policemen and FSB agents not. Antiterrorism exercises are no reason to break the law," the lawyer told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.