Arrest of three HRDs in St. Petersburg
On 5 May 2018, Vladislav Dmitriev, and Tatyana Pamfilova were arrested for observing demonstrations against Vladimir Putin’s inauguration. Alexey Belozerov was arrested while trying to show protesters in police custody a printed list of their rights and trying to provide them with telephone numbers of pro-bono lawyers.
Alexey Belozerov is the district coordinator of the human rights movement Observers of St. Petersburg.
On 5 May 2018, Vladislav Dmitriev, and Tatyana Pamfilova were arrested for observing demonstrations against Vladimir Putin’s inauguration. Alexey Belozerov was arrested while trying to show protesters in police custody a printed list of their rights and trying to provide them with telephone numbers of pro-bono lawyers.
Alexey Belozerov, Vladislav Dmitriev and Tatyana Pamfilova are all members of Assistance to detainees in St. Petersburg (GPZ). GPZ is a non-political volunteer organization that provides assistance to people who have been detained at peaceful demonstrations and events. The organisation observes court proceedings and monitors police conduct, prepares petitions, writes complaints, and receives calls and requests from protestors in police custody. It also delivers food and personal hygiene products to those in pre-trial detention. Alexey Belozerov is also the district coordinator of the human rights movement Observers of St. Petersburg.
Vladislav Dmitriev and Tatyana Pamfilova were arrested and released after being charged for "violating the established procedure for organising or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picketing" and "disobeying the lawful order of a police officer" under article 20.2 and 19.3 respectively of the Administrative Code. Neither were present at their respective trials on the 6 May, but both were convicted in absentia. They have not yet appealed their sentences.
Alexey Belozerov was arrested while trying to show protesters (who had been opposing the inauguration of Vladimir Putin) in police custody a printed list of their rights as detainees by pressing a list, which also included the numbers of pro-bono lawyers, up against the window of a police bus. A video shows how riot police knocked him to the ground and began beating him before dragging him onto the bus. He was charged but not released. The following day, Kalininskiy Court sentenced him to 15 days administrative detention and ordered him to pay a fine of 170,000 rubles (€ 2,311) under Article 19.3.1 and Article 20.2.8 respectively of the Administrative Code. A subsequent appeal upheld the administrative detention and fine.
This is the second time Alexey Belozerov has been arrested for his human rights work relating to protesters. On 12 June 2017 he was arrested for "violating the established procedure for organising or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picketing" and "disobeying the lawful order of a police officer" under article 20.2 and 19.3 respectively of the Administrative Code.
In total, more than 200 people were detained during the peaceful opposition march. Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner has stated that accusations of excessive use of force will be investigated.
Front Line Defenders condemns the detentions of protesters and human rights defenders in Russia.
