Pavel Nagibin challenges in court refusal to issue fan's passport

On February 4, Pavel Nagibin, an activist of "The Other Russia" Party from Rostov-on-Don, appealed to the court against the denial of "Sochi-2014" Organizing Committee (OC) to grant him a fan's passport that is required, along with tickets, to attend the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. The lawyer Oleg Agafonov believes that he has very few chances to succeed.

"In my claim, I ask the court to declare illegal the refusal of 'Sochi-2014' organizers  to give me a fan's passport fan because, first, it is discrimination: why other Russian citizens can visit the Olympic Games, and I can't? Second, the Sochi Olympics cost billions of roubles from the state budget, that is, from taxes paid by citizens of Russia, including my money: then, why can't I see the Olympics? And, finally, any citizen has the right to express his/her opinion; it shouldn't deprive me of my rights," Pavel Nagibin has explained his decision.

According to the lawyer Oleg Agafonov, the court will take Nagibin's claim to consideration, but he should not hope for a positive outcome.

"The court will dismiss Pavel's claim, because Russia's judiciary defends the class interests of big capital, which may disregard any public outrage. No most eminent lawyer can win this lawsuit in a Russian court," Oleg Agafonov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.