Sochi: two local election commission members detained after picketing

At the building of Sochi Mayoralty, policemen detained Dmitry Titkov and Vadim Polikanov, members of precinct election commissions (PECs); the latter denied his participation in the picket.

Dmitry Titkov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he went out today, at 2 p.m. Moscow time to Flag Square in front of the Mayoralty with a poster reading "I demand cancellation of election outcomes in Sochi!" The poster also called to make local authorities liable for enforcing people to vote.

According to Mr Titkov, half an hour later, policemen approached him and forced him to follow them to a police station. "I stood in a solo picket, when policemen demanded from me to go (along with them); I asked to explain the reason, after which they accused me of disobedience," Dmitry Titkov has explained, noting that he held a solo picket, but policemen detained two persons.

"It's impossible to express one's opinion about the election! We were not given a chance to hold fair election; and now they (don't allow us to express) our opinion that the election was dishonest," Dmitry Titkov has stated.

The second detainee, Vadim Polikanov, informed the "Caucasian Knot" that the policemen also accused him of picketing and disobeying their lawful demands.

"I had no poster in hands, or even any hint to the fact that I was holding a picket. However, policemen, without explaining anything, demanded to follow them; and now they accuse me under two articles, "Vadim Polikanov said.

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