Anticap 2017: Udaltsov held by police past release deadline

Detained before “Anticap,” Udaltsov continues to be illegally held by the police

September 25: The coordinator of the Left Front Sergei Udaltsov, who was detained in the center of Moscow on September 23 before the “Anticapitalism 2017” action, remains in custody despite the expiration of the 48-hour deadline for his release, said Denis Sommer, one of the applicants of the “Anticapitalism” march.

“It’s been more than an hour since Sergei’s administrative detention expired, he is now in a police car near the building of the Tverskoi Court, he is not released and his passport is not returned.”

Judge Orekhova Alesia Yuryevna denied the lawyer of the oppositionist Violetta Volkova the opportunity to acquaint herself with his case file, Sommer told FORUM.msk.

Flash mob in Saratov, Russia, Sept. 24 demands release of Sergei Udaltsov and others detained at Anticapitalism 2017. Photo: Leonid Razvozzhaev

Recall that today the Tverskoi Court of Moscow is supposed to consider the administrative case against Sergei Udaltsov. In respect to him, a protocol was drawn up on an administrative offense under Part 2 of Art. 20.2 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses — organizing or holding a public event without giving notice. If the court finds Udaltsov guilty, then he faces an administrative fine of between 20,000 and 30,000 rubles or arrest for up to ten days.

Sergei Udaltsov, Eduard Limonov and more than three dozen people were detained on Saturday in Strastnoy Boulevard in Moscow before the start of the unauthorized action “Anticapitalism 2017.”

“Before the start of the ‘Anticapitalism’ event, which, due to the fact that it was not authorized, was to take place in the form of a mass festival, I was approaching the boulevard, literally, when I crossed the road near the ‘Russia’ cinema, and was detained by police officers. They said that I assembled an unauthorized action and prevented the passage of citizens,” he told reporters.

According to Udaltsov, at the time of his detention, people had neither banners nor flags. “We were just standing at a traffic light, we wanted to cross the road, there were several dozen people with me.

“I consider my detention illegal,” the oppositionist added.

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Translated by Greg Butterfield