A 72-year-old woman has been slapped with a fine for attending a mass anti-corruption protest last year.
Moscow’s Tverskoy Court ruled to fine Turana Varzhabetyan 10,000 rubles ($175) for violating picketing rules during opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s unsanctioned March 26 anti-corruption protest, the Public Verdict human rights organization reported on Monday.
“The judge was not fazed by the fact that even police witnesses stated that Varzhabetyan was standing alone at first, and only then another picketer approached and stood next to her,” Public Verdict lawyer Alexei Laptev said.
“Thus, it was he who violated the minimum distance between picketers of 50 meters, and not her,” he added.
Police reportedly dislocated the pensioner’s arm while they were detaining her at the protest in March.
The European Court of Human Rights is considering two of the pensioner’s complaints over police violence during the protests on March 26, 2017, and rallies against President Vladimir Putin’s 2012 inauguration on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, according to Public Verdict.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
