03:04, 13 June 2017

EU calls on Russia to free detained Alexei Navalny's supporters

The police officers at the rally of Navalny's supporters in Krasnodar. Photo by Vyacheslav Yaschenko for "Caucasian Knot"

The European Union (EU) has called on the Russian authorities to release activists detained during actions held throughout the country on June 12.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 12, actions of oppositionist Alexei Navalny's supporters were held in Rostov-on-Don, Maikop, Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Stavropol, and other cities. In a number of cities, including Sochi, Stavropol, and Makhachkala, the actions were accompanied by detentions.

"Detention of hundreds of peaceful demonstrators by the Russian authorities and use of violence against them in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other cities across the country threatens the fundamental freedom of speech, association and assembly in Russia," the RIA "Novosti" quotes an EU official as reporting.

In Moscow, more than 150 people were detained for violation of public order, and 500 people were detained in Saint Petersburg, the press centre of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reports.

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