Posted August 8, 2010
On 30 July in Moscow without being presented any charges the activists of anti-facist movement Maxim Solopov and Alexei Gascarov got arrested. Maxim and Alexei were known as public figures of the growing youth movement against the Nazis’ violence, which in recent years has done much to reveal the ties of state structures police and the ultra-rights in Russia.
Their arrest followed a series of dramatic events which took place in July, around the destruction of forest in Himki near Moscow. Big business and state bureaucrats having interest in cutting down the forest for realization of the multimillion dollar Moscow-Saint Petersburg highway project, launched an all-out terror campaign against the initiative group consisting of local residents and ecologists. On 23 July the peaceful camp of protesters was violently assaulted by thugs of private security firms and ultra-right football fans hired by the construction corporation. The police would not get involved. During the next week since 26 July the assaults on the protesters continued, while the cutting down of the forest – one of the biggest green zones in the nearest vicinity of Moscow – went on every day too.
On 28 July a group of radical antifa of about 400 held a symbolic protest rally against the corporate, police and Nazi lawlessness by throwing fireworks at the building of Himki’s municipal administration directly responsible for the situation around the forest. The rally was completed in just few minutes and police were not able to react and seize any of its participants. Despite the lack any personal data on any of the rally’s participants, on the next day the police held searches and arrests of people whose fault consisted just in their public antifascist and anti-capitalist stance. Besides, they arrested two journalists who were present at the rally’s location on 28 July and made photo and video shooting.
According to information from the press the assault on Himki’s administration was considered as very important at the very top, i.e. the Russia’ s President’s Administration which now is determined to find the culprits whatever it takes. Knowing the methods employed by Russian police and special services we have no doubt that in this particular case the use of methods of psychological and physical pressure is more then possible, not to exclude even the torture. It is even more possible since up to date there is no evidence of Alexei’s and Maxim’s participation in the assault.
In would not be an overstatement to say that the future of antifa movement in Moscow depends on the outcome of this case. The police spokesmen have already told the press that “it was time to show them their place” and break the growing movement out of authorities’ control.
We call on all left and working movement activists, antifascists and ecologists to voice their protest against the police harassment of Alexei and Maxim.
What can be done immediately?
1.
Send protest letters on the following addresses or call phones:
Prosecutor’s office of Moscow region news@mosoblproc.ru 107031, Moscow, Kiselny М. per., d. 5
Prosecutor’s office of Himki 141400, 141400, Himki, ul. Mayakovskogo, d. 30; +7(495)571-62-35
Department of internal affairs of Himki (police station where the arrested activists are currently kept): 141400 Moscow region, Himki, Gogol st., 6; +7 (495) 572-0202 (police station), (495) 572-1209 (administrative office).
2.
To address a protest to the Russian embassy in your country or – eve better – to organize a protest calling for immediate release of Maxim Solopov and Alexei Gaskarov.
3.
Assist in disseminating this information as widely as possible
Information from the media on the campaign against destruction of Himki’s forest:
http://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/yevgenia-chirikova/battle-for-khimki-forest
http://www.rferl.org/content/Khimki_Forest_Defender_Yevgenia_Chirikova_Is_New_Face_Of_Russian_Civic_Activism/2113306.html
http://www.grist.org/article/moscow-forest-battle-boils-over/
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/engineering-a-forests-defense/411028.html
English-speaking blog of the defenders of the forest:
http://community.livejournal.com/himki_protest/3338.html#cutid1
Comments
2 responses to “Stop police harassment of anti-facists in Russia!”
TYPICAL OF THE R.C.M.P. THREATEN THE PEOPLE OF B.C.
DO THE PEOPLE OF B.C. A FAVOUR AND KICK THE RCMP BUMS OUT!!!!
Ottawa is threatening to pull all RCMP municipal detachments out of British Columbia if the province does not sign a take-it-or-leave-it new policing contract by the end of November.
B.C. Solicitor-General Shirley Bond said the federal government’s ultimatum leaves the province with no option but to begin investigating the possibility of re-establishing its own police force, something it hasn’t had since 1950.
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said local politicians feel they have too little control over how RCMP officers are deployed in their municipalities and how they are billed for them. Local governments also question why they should pay for training RCMP members.
Earlier this month, Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender, co-chair of a committee of Lower Mainland mayors who have the Mounties as their police force, said municipalities are prepared to replace the RCMP with provincial police if an acceptable deal cannot be reached. “We are not afraid to look at the alternative, which would be forming our own provincial force,” he said in an interview with a local newspaper.
TYPICAL OF THE R.C.M.P. THREATEN THE PEOPLE OF B.C. – JUST LOOK AT THESE BOOKS??
CANADA’s POLICE FORCE: Lies, fabrication, perjury … and much worse? [Paperback]
“Before his death he was able to tell a nurse at the hospital that an RCMP officer jumped up and down on him”
Paperback: 734 pages
COPIES CAN BE ORDERED FROM:
http://www.amazon.com/CANADAs-POLICE-FORCE-fabrication-perjury/dp/1461102812/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307998916&sr=1-15
There’s No Such Thing as Human Rights in Canada! [Paperback]
In the author’s first book entitled “Canada’s Police Force: Lies, fabrication, perjury … and much worse?”, he mentions in a few of the 117 Chapters of the book that, if you successfully sue the RCMP, as far as they are concerned, you become an Enemy of the State and are free game for them to harass, including one’s spouse and children [see Chapters 88 to 97]. However, in their zeal to harass this fellow, as well as countless others in the country, it becomes clear that the RCMP themselves have become the Enemy of the People! This current Book, entitled “There’s No Such Thing as Human Rights in Canada!” is a continuation of this conspiratory harassment by the RCMP of this individual and his children. The proof is in the pudding and, even if not beyond a reasonable doubt, a preponderance of evidence would indicate this statement to be true.
Paperback: 636 pages
COPIES CAN BE ORDERED FROM:
http://www.amazon.com/Theres-Thing-Human-Rights-Canada/dp/1463626622/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311552066&sr=1-2
Just saw a video distributed by The Real News Network on the “English Defence League,” which is a new, far-right, anti-Islamic English organization with a secret leadership. Then in reading this account about Russia, I was struck by the similarity of the youthful right wing–they also have ultra-right football fans!