Sochi court finds pensioner guilty of organizing unsanctioned rally

The pensioner Margarita Markelova was found guilty of organizing and holding an unauthorized rally on January 15 next to the Sochi Mayoralty. She was punished by a warning. The pensioner refused to plead guilty and intends to appeal against the judgement, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 15 Sochi pensioners gathered near the Mayoralty and blocked off the street, demanding the return preferential public transport fares. After that, the Sochi police began looking for organizers of the unsanctioned rally.

On February 19, the Tsentralny District Court in Sochi held a session, during which the pensioner Margarita Markelova was found guilty of organizing the unsanctioned protest, says the judgement, a copy of which is at the disposal of the "Caucasian Knot".

Margarita Markelova told the "Caucasian Knot" that the protocol against her was made not on the scene, but more than a month later; besides, she wasn’t provided with an advocate; and she is not guilty of anything. She claims that she was not allowed to study the materials of her case.

She stated that she is not satisfied with the judgement and intends to appeal against it, as well as against the actions of the officials.

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