Deputy coordinator of Dagestani Navalny's office challenges his arrest

In his appeal complaint, Murad Manapov, the deputy coordinator of Alexei Navalny's office in Dagestan, treats his detention and arrest as unlawful. The Makhachkala court failed to account for the activist's arguments, his advocate ha stated.

On April 12, Manapov was arrested on charges of petty hooliganism. Law enforcers did not allow him to contact his family and an advocate; and forced him, under pressure, to sign the protocol, the activist himself has told. They asked about the plans of the office and information about his relatives; they also struck several blows on him and threatened with torture, Mr Manapov has added.

Law enforcers had claimed that Manapov was loudly swearing in the street, but there were no witnesses to this, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has pointed out in the complaint. There are obvious political motives in the case, the advocate is sure. According to the reports, policemen came to the activist to prevent an unauthorized rally in support of Navalny, but they failed to present any proofs that the rally had been prepared. The advocate also believes that the court has ignored the fact that law enforcers had restricted Manapov's constitutional right to hold peaceful assemblies.

Such cases are standard, when they want to arrest a person for political reasons, the defence has claimed.