22:22, 30 January 2007

Human rights defenders of Krasnodar Territory complain of power agencies' pressure

Human rights activists from the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization (ANCO) "Novorossiysk Committee for Human Rights" assert that they are under pressure exerted on them by members of power agencies of the Krasnodar Territory.

We remind you that on January 23, 2007, a meeting of human rights defenders with their guests from Germany at the Erzya arts school in Novorossiysk (Krasnodar Territory) was interrupted by employees of law enforcement bodies.

"The aim of our meeting was to get acquainted with each other and talk about cultural sights of the Krasnodar Territory," Vadim Karastelyov, a participant of the meeting, has reported, "but we are accused of holding a non-sanctioned assembly and breaching the Law "On Assemblies, Meetings, Demonstrations, Marches and Pickets." We think it to be another provocation undertaken by law enforcement bodies against human rights activists."