Krasnodar journalist arrested

The Department of the State Drug Control Agency in Krasnodar Region detained Aleksey Cherepanov, a 25-year-old journalist and antifascist, on May 24. He was charged under Article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code "Illegal purchase or storage of drug or psychotropic substances in large quantities not for a purpose of selling". The editor of the anarchist magazine Avtonom, which Aleksey Cherepanov contributed to, has sent letters to all official instances claiming that Cherepanov was arrested for his political views and professional journalistic work. "Neither Aleksey nor his wife has never taken drugs and never kept them in their room. There is no doubt that stealthily placed drugs, 9 days' arrest and further detention are related to Cherepanov's political activity," these addresses read.

One of the themes Aleksey Cherepanov wrote about in his articles in local newspapers is the persecution of migrants by regional authorities. In 1998, Aleksey was chairman of the town movement Antifascist Youth Action in Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Region. He waged a campaign to protest against the Russian National Unity movement (RNE). Since 1999, he has taken part in the work of the anarchist movement and been a member of the Autonomous Action movement.

Alexey Cherepanov was first arrested in Krasnodar on May 12 by State Drug Control officers for "refusal to comply with lawful demands of State Drug Control officers" and was imprisoned for 9 days. Drugs were found on him during a search. On May 19, the door of the room in which Aleksey and his wife, Oksana Musykina, live was broken open and a search was conducted in the guise of inspecting the room. 24 grams of marijuana and 2 grams of heroin were found during the search. Besides, several dozens of anarchist magazines and family pictures were seized during the search. Aleksey was released after 9 days had been over and was summoned to the regional drug control department for giving explanations on May 24. There he was detained again.

State Duma Deputy Oleg Shein and member of the Russian President's Human Rights Commission Svyatoslav Zabelin sent letters of inquiry about the Cherepanov case on May 26.

On May 28, the "Freedom to Aleksey Cherepanov!" action took place at the building of the State Drug Control Agency in Moscow. Some 25 activists approached the building and blocked the entrance with a bicycle lock. Armed guards, police officers, and persons in mufti appeared soon. Four journalists and three action participants were detained as a result.