24 April 2006, 15:22
Militiamen stopped human rights activists from picketing in the Krasnodar Territory
Eduard Mktrchyan, Akhmad Choloyan and Vadim Karastelyov, members of the "Novorossisk Human Rights Committee" departed from Novorossisk to Krasnodar to take part in a picket against militia voluntarism committed in the village of Gulkevichi. "Usually, the road takes two hours, but this time we spent five, since at every Road Inspectorate ("GAI") post we were waited for, four times detained, our car was thoroughly searched for 30-40 minutes, they checked our documents and called up to their higher bosses" Akhmad Choloyan told.
Despite the rain, the picket took place, and fifteen persons tried to draw attention to illegal actions of law enforcement bodies, runs a report of the Autonomous NGO "Novorossisk Human Rights Committee" that arrived to the editorial board of the "Caucasian Knot." The people were holding symbols of big black apples bearing photos of those who suffered from law enforcers. After the picket, its participants were met by Andrei Solodushin, head of the sector for working with public human rights organizations of the administration of the Krasnodar Territory.
In protest against violations of human rights by bureaucrats, Tatiana Rudakova, head of the human rights organization "Mothers for Defence of Rights of Trialled, Detained and Convicted Persons," applied for quitting the Board under the head of Administration of the Krasnodar Territory for promoting development of civil society institutes and human rights.
"It's a pity that instead of fighting the crime, militia bosses are busy chasing human rights activists. We'll lodge a complaint to the prosecutor's office on these facts. At the photo exhibition on systematic violations of human rights, to be held in May in Germany, we'll be proactive in informing private and international investors that they have no property guarantees in the Krasnodar Territory," Vadim Karastelyov stated.
