Memorial Considers the Persecution of Stanislav Pozdnyakov to Be Politically Motivated

1 view

Skip to first unread message

Human Rights Center Memorial

unread,

Jul 4, 2012, 5:53:06 AM7/4/12

to hrcmemo...@googlegroups.com

Memorial Considers the Persecution of Stanislav Pozdnyakov to Be Politically Motivated

We will assist with his defense

Stanislav Pozdnyakov, activist with the “Solidarity” movement, was arrested by police on 1 April 2012 during an attempt to hold a mass procession with white ribbons on Red Square and was brought to the OMVD “Tverskoy”. Three hours after his arrest, the maximum time during which himself and other detainees could be detained in the department, they tried to leave. An employee of the OMVD “Tverskoy” prevented them from leaving the assembly hall where they were being detained and hit Pozdnyakov in his face.

Pozdnyakov announced that he intended to record the beating and hold the police officer to account. The police officers, for their part, announced that they were investigating an incidence of violence towards the police officer by Pozdnyakov himself. In May it became known that proceedings had commenced against Pozdnyakov pursuant to Part 1 of Article 318 (violence against a representative of the authorities) of the Russian Federation Criminal Code. On 31 May he was charged. Stanislav is currently on his own recognizance.

Numerous witnesses who were present at the OMVD and near it confirm that he did not hit the police officer and that the police officer did not suffer any injury after the conflict. Pozdnyakov has very poor vision (-12) and even if he wished to he could not have given a directed blow to the police officer. The conflict between Pozdnyakov and the police officer was caused by a chain of illegal events by police officers, which infringed upon Pozdnyakov's fundamental rights and those of other detainees: they were illegally detained, in breach of the right to freedom of assembly, for being located on Red Square with white ribbons on their clothes; they were illegally detained at the OVD for more than three hours; they are being charged pursuant to Art. 20.2 (breach of the peace by organizing a rally, protest, demonstration, procession or picketing) of the Russian Federation Administrative Offenses Code; and physical force was illegally used against them.

Meanwhile, the actions of the police officers and 'victims' against whom Pozdnyakov made complaints have gone unpunished: law enforcement bodies have not provided an official response.

The use of charges pursuant to Art. 318 of the Criminal Code is a widespread practice against persons who have suffered from the actions of the police.

By agreement with the Human Rights Center Memorial, well-known lawyer Nikolai Polozov is providing Stanislav Pozdnyakov with legal assistance. HRC Memorial will keep the situation surrounding Pozdnyakov under control.

Information on political prisoner Stanislav Pozdnyakov can be found on the Memorial's site: http://www.memo.ru/d/118996.html.