CPRF leader in KChR treats his detention as political persecution

Kemal Bytdaev, the head of the branch of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) in the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR), has been detained within the case of organizing an unsanctioned rally in Cherkessk the capital of the republic. Bytdaev himself and his comrades accuse the authorities of political pressure on the party in connection with the elections to the republic's parliament.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 5, the Supreme Court (SC) of the KChR satisfied the lawsuit lodged by the regional branch of the "Patriots of Russia" Party that demanded to remove the list of CPRF's candidates from the elections to the KChR's Parliament to be held on September 8, 2019.

Law enforcers detained Kemal Bytdaev, the first secretary of the CPRF's regional branch, on July 17, the press service of the party has reported.

Bytdaev is charged with organizing an unsanctioned rally on the square in front of the building of the KChR's Government on July 15. However, according to the party, this event was not a rally, but a meeting with the State Duma MPs from the CPRF.

Kemal Bytdaev himself has confirmed that he was detained under the case of organizing an unsanctioned rally in Cherkessk. He treats his detention as a method of pressure on the party by the republic's authorities; according to his version, the CPRF has appealed against the ban on participation in the elections to the KChR's Parliament at the Russia's SC.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 17, 2019 at 08:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.