In Sochi, leaders of oppositional parties express solidarity with Navalny's supporters

A trial against activists of the Navalny's office in Sochi is a political persecution. This was stated by Igor Vasiliev, the branch leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). People are being punished for a photo on the office porch and a walk with a balloon, declared Iren Ilienkova, the leader of the local "Yabloko" Party branch.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 13, activist Olesya Christosenko was detained for making a photo at the porch of the Navalny's office. The activist was accused of re-violating the procedure for holding a public action. On October 13, Konstantin Gudimov, detained in Sochi with a balloon, was also accused of violating the procedure for holding a public action.

On October 23, the court hearing was not held again. The leaders of the Sochi political parties came to court to support the activists and express the solidarity to the Navalny's supporters.

"The situation which is happening now, when they try to bring to administrative responsibility members and activists of the Navalny's office, is more usual for the totalitarian regime. The very absurdity of the situation is in the fact that people are charged for a photo in social networks and a walk around the city with a balloon bearing the symbols of the Navalny's office," Iren Ilienkova has emphasized.

Igor Vasiliev believes the cases against the activists are "a political persecution." "The Sochi police and courts have apparently forgotten what the Constitution of the Russian Federation is, which guarantees for everyone the freedom of opinion, speech and publicity," Igor Vasiliev has stated.

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