Grigory Uchkurov from Sochi was not excluded from Cossack community, Cossacks assert

The information about the expulsion of Grigory Uchkurov from the Cossack community after he identified the participants of the scuffle with Pussy Riot and criticized the Cossacks involved in the incident, is untrue, say members of the Sochi Cossack community.

Let us remind you that on February 19 members of the band Pussy Riot and the art group "Voina" (War) said that they were attacked by Cossacks in Sochi. The Cossack Grigory Uchkurov later said that he recognized Nikolai Kuts, the Ataman of the Tsentralny District Cossack Community of Sochi, on the online video footage.

Grigory Uchkurov holds the position of a Cossack sergeant in the farm of Navaginsky. "Excluding a Cossack from the community is not a very simple procedure. Grigory Uchkurov was not excluded yet, since it is done at the 'circle' (a general meeting of Cossacks.) We invited Grigory to come to the 'circle' on February 25, but he couldn't come; therefore, we reappointed the meeting for March 4," Valery Bogatyryov, the head of Navaginsky, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He added: "We'll hear Grigory Uchkurov about his negative speeches and statements in the media against Cossacks. We believe that the group Pussy Riot had offended religious feelings of Russians by their actions. We want to know why Uchkurov is supporting them."