21:28, 17 February 2020

In Southern Russia, bookstores support rally against verdict in 'Network' case*

Krasnodar bookstore "Charlie". Photo: Angelina Trofimenko, Yuga.ru

In Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, and Stavropol, three bookstores suspended their operation to support the "Book Strike" in protest against the verdict in a case against the "Set" (Network)*.

The "Set" case* (Penza case) is a case of an organization called the "Set"*. The law enforcement bodies and the court suggested that units of the "Set" operated in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Penza, Omsk, and Belarus. 11 people were accused of participating in a terrorist community and of plotting unrest in the country. The detainees claimed that they were tortured. On February 10, a court of Penza sentenced the defendants to 6-18 years of imprisonment.

Today, in Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, and Stavropol, the bookstores have suspended their operation and thus joined the "Book Strike" action, held by Russian booksellers in solidarity with the persons sentenced in the "Set" case*. Bookstores in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Tula, Krasnodar, and Krasnoyarsk take part in the action, the "Interfax" reports.

Today, on its Instagram page, the Krasnodar bookstore "Charlie" has confirmed the information about its participation in the protest. "Friends, today, the bookstore 'Charlie' will suspend its work for one day in support of prisoners in the 'Set' case*. We are against inhumane treatment of people," the bookstore declares in its post on Instagram.

* The organization was recognized as extremist and banned in Russia by a court decision in 2017. On January 17, 2019, the "Set" community was declared terrorist by a decision of the Moscow District Military Court.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 17, 2020 at 05:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.