17:25, 11 June 2014

Novorossiysk: activist Polyudova fined for petty hooliganism at her picket in defence of Pioneer Grove

In the Krasnodar Territory, an activist Darya Polyudova spent a night at the police station and was fined for petty hooliganism during her solo pickets against felling the Pioneer Grove near Novorossiysk, the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus" reports.

Darya began her solo picket at 7:30 p.m. Moscow time on June 9. She unfolded a poster reading "No to cutting Pioneer Grove!" "I stood for three minutes; then, four men came up to me and asked about the aim of my action," said Darya Polyudova. "In fact, I could tell nothing, when policemen appeared and immediately detained me."

On June 10, Darya's administrative case was considered by the Oktiabrsky District Court of Novorossiysk. The judge fined her by 500 roubles for petty hooliganism.

Activists keep holding pickets in support of the Pioneer Grove since 2013. They assert that earlier the city authorities had promised not to touch the Pioneer Grove and abandon their plans to build it up; however, later they failed to keep their word.