Initiator of action for rights of Oirat-Kalmyk nationals disagrees with rally ban

The Mayoralty of Elista, the capital of Kalmykia, has refused to sanction the July 26 rally in defence of the Russian Constitution and the rights of the Oirat-Kalmyk people. Semyon Ateev, an activist, has applied for holding a rally in the territory of the "Seven Days' Pagoda" Complex; the city court has approved the refusal. Semyon has treated the ban as discriminatory, pointing out that other events organized by the authorities used to take place in the territory of the complex.

The Elista City Court has found the Mayoralty's refusal to sanction the rally near the Government House, in the territory of the "Seven Days' Pagoda" Cultural Complex. The court session was held on July 22, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who was present at the session, has reported.

Semyon Ateev has treated the refusal to sanction the rally as "a deliberate obstruction" and discrimination "on national, racial, political and social grounds."

He has added that authorities prohibit rallies near the Government House solely because "opposition-minded citizens" gather there. "And this is already discrimination against a part of Russian citizens because of their beliefs," the claimant has concluded. "Evidence of the fact that, by rejecting my right to hold a rally in the territory of the 'Seven Days' Pagoda' Cultural Complex, the Elista Mayoralty commits discrimination against me on political and social grounds, is the fact that on March 21, 2022, a political action was held there in the form of a flash mob in support of the special operation in Ukraine," Mr Ateev has concluded.

The judgement of the City Court will be appealed against at the Supreme Court of Kalmykia on July 25, Semyon Ateev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 23, 2022 at 08:27 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.