Sochi: Alexander Valov found guilty of breaching the order of organizing rallies

The Tsentralny District Court of Sochi has found Alexander Valov guilty of violating the order of organizing and holding rallies and sentenced him to 50 hours of mandatory works. Mr Valov would not agree with the court ruling and intends to appeal against it within 10 days.

Let us remind you that on December 10, a call was circulated through social networks addressed to Sochi residents and inviting them to go out to the rally in the square opposite the Mayoralty on December 15. The planned action was not coordinated with the authorities. The rally did not take place at the appointed time. However, on the same day and at the same place up to 100 people gathered and held, in the format of an assembly, an action with the aim to specify the problems in the housing sector unresolved by the authorities.

According to Alexander Valov, his intention to hold a rally, which had never come true, cannot be the ground for founding him guilty and imposing a punishment.

However, Judge Nikolai Udovik found Alexander Valov's guilt proved by the protocol on administrative offense, the report of the district policeman about placement of ads about the rally on social networks, an explanation provided by the witness Tatiana Osipova, and by a printout from the website "BlogSochi".