Polyudova fails to appeal against her administrative arrest

The Krasnodar Regional Court has upheld the judgement of the Krasnoarmeiskiy District Court, which sentenced the local activist Darya Polyudova to 10 days of administrative arrest for disseminating leaflets.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 9, Darya Polyudova was detained when she was handing out to passers-by the leaflets criticizing the policy of the Russian President. On the same day, the court announced the decision to arrest the activist.

Darya told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that only today she could get acquainted with her administrative case, and, according to her version, the court gave her only 15 minutes for that.

According to the young woman, at today's session of the Krasnodar Regional Court she filed a motion to postpone the session, as her advocate Alexander Popkov was unable to appear because of his participation in some other trial.

"I've also asked to summon the witnesses – the policemen who detained me and the FSB agents, who interrogated me; however, the court has rejected my motions," said Darya Polyudova, adding that the court session lasted for no more than 15 minutes, after which the judge upheld the judgement of Krasnoarmeiskiy District Court.

"I had almost no doubts about the outcome – they are really persecuting me everywhere in the Krasnodar Territory. I can't find work. All this is done to decrease my chances to avoid criminal punishment under another case," Darya Polyudova complained, adding, however, that she would not change her political views because of the pressure.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.