Alexander Valov challenges court's decision to find him guilty of violations in organizing rally in Sochi

Alexander Valov, the owner of the website "BlogSochi", who was found guilty of violating the order of organizing a rally, filed an appeal against the court's decision.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 19, the Central District Court of Sochi found Alexander Valov guilty of violating the order of organizing and holding the rally and sentenced him to 50 hours of compulsory works.

On December 10, social networks disseminated a call addressed to Sochi residents to attend the rally to be held in the square near the city administration on December 15, at 2:00 p.m. The planned rally was not sanctioned by the authorities. The rally did not take place at the appointed time. However, on the same day, up to 100 persons gathered at the same place and held an action in the form of gathering to protest against the authorities' failure to solve the problems in the housing and utilities sphere. The accusation for violation of the established procedure for organizing or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, march or picket (Part 2 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation) was charged to Alexander Valov, the owner of the website "BlogSochi".

"I sent a complaint via registered mail with delivery notification. I hope that the higher court will consider the case and cancel the pronounced decision as unlawful, since I did not commit any offense," Alexander Valov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.