HRC "Memorial" recognizes Maxim Panfilov as political prisoner

Maxim Panfilov, a resident of Astrakhan, should be released, states the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". According to the human rights defenders, the events in Bolotnaya Square in Moscow which took place on May 6, 2012, and of involvement in which Maxim Panfilov was accused, had no signs of a mass riot.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 7, 30-year-old Maxim Panfilov was detained in Astrakhan and brought to Moscow by plane. On April 8, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow pronounced the decision to arrest Maxim Panfilov until May 7. On April 11, the defence filed an appeal against the court's decision.

The HRC "Memorial" treats the "case of Bolotnaya Square" as totally unjust and unreasonable, since, according to the human rights defenders, the events of May 6, 2012, showed no signs of a mass riot.

"The evidence of the guilt of the persons earlier sentenced for using violence against policemen were based on rough falsifications and on biased and one-sided investigation," states the report of the HRC "Memorial" received today by the "Caucasian Knot".

The report also notes that the human rights defenders treat Maxim Panfilov as a political prisoner and demand to immediately and unconditionally release him and other prisoners in the "case of Bolotnaya   Square".

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