Sochi activists state the need to publicly discuss policemen's action during Olympics

Sochi rights defenders and activists have declared the need to discuss the police's actions during the preparation and holding of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Activists plan holding a roundtable and invite there top-ranking officials of the police, prosecutor's office, FSB and administration of Sochi.

On February 27, after four days behind bars, an activist David Khakim was released. According to his story, the police "talked with him on political topics" and warned that "if he follows his convictions, he will be put in jail again."

The need for a dialogue with law enforcers was also emphasized by Olga Noskovets, an activist of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus", who had been prosecuted for resistance to legitimate demands of the police. She noted that she has "fear for her life and health, as she distrusts the law enforcement bodies."

Alik Le and Lev Svyatozarov, members of the Public Oversight Commission (POC) visited the special detention facility of the Khosta District to check the complaints of Noskovets and Khakim about custody conditions.

"We came to the conclusion that the custody conditions were substandard. I believe that a roundtable or a press conference is a must given the today's lawlessness of the police," said Alik Le.

Vladimir Kimaev, the head of the Sochi branch of the "Yabloko" Party, also believes it necessary to hold a meeting with police officers in order to "delineate the conflict between activists and law enforcers."