St-Petersburg to hold action in memory of Politkovskaya despite authorities' ban

A picket in memory of Anna Politkovskaya will take place today in St-Petersburg, despite the prohibition of city authorities, assert the organizers of the action - members of the Petersburg branch of the "Yabloko" Party.

We remind you that today a memory rally in honour of observer of "Novaya Gazeta" Anna Politkovskaya will also be held in Moscow, in Novopushkinskiy mini-park. It has been agreed with the authorities of the capital.

The Petersburg activists failed to coordinate their action with the city authorities. The RIA "Novosti" reports that the latter have explained their ban on holding the action at 7:00-9:00 p.m. near the "Solovki Boulder" in Troitskaya Square by certain "improvement works" appointed for the same time there.

The Committee on Legality and Public Order, sitting in Smolny, has suggested the organizers of the action to rally in a distant city suburb - the park named after the 50th Anniversary of October in the Metallists' Avenue. Nevertheless, the organizers are going to rally in their traditional place mentioned above.

"Despite the frank cynicism in city authorities' actions, we'll still come at this time and on this day to the Solovki Boulder to commemorate Anna Politkovskaya," said Maxim Reznik, leader of the Petersburg Branch of the "Yabloko" Party, gave his comments on the events to "Novaya Gazeta". "It's not only our right but also our tribute to her. It needs no coordination with whatever committee. All will pass silently and peacefully, just what's necessary in minutes of grief."

Meanwhile, the Committee for City Improvement and Roads in Smolny has stated no works had been planned in Troitskaya Square, where the action was marked.

We remind you that yesterday, on October 6, on the eve of the second anniversary of the murder of journalist of "Novaya Gazeta" Anna Politkovskaya, in Moscow, the conference hall of the International Society "Memorial" housed a party "Two Years without Politkovskaya", organized by the Society "Memorial" and the "Caucasian Knot".

Also today, a meeting in memory of Anna Politkovskaya will be held in the capital of Finland Helsinki.

The preliminary hearing on Anna Politkovskaya's murder will begin on October 15 at the Moscow Regional Military Court (MRMC), said Alexander Minchanovskiy, press secretary of the MRMC.