Roman Kharitonov from Sochi detained and beaten up after criticizing authorities

In Sochi, law enforcers have detained Roman Kharitonov, who had earlier been summoned to the police in connection with his posting a video containing criticism of authorities. Roman has explained his dissatisfaction with authorities by the fact that his grandmother, a 92-year-old war veteran, was deprived of her land plot.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on the eve of the Victory Day (May 9), the family of the 92-year-old Raisa Skakova received a notification from the prosecutor's office about the alienation of a plot of land from them, which, according to an examination, is partially located within the boundaries of the Sochi National Park.

Eight law enforcers entered the Vladikavkaz-Sochi train and detained him, Kharitonov has told. Earlier, he "received a phone call from a policeman" demanding to appear, but without explaining the reasons. Kharitonov refused to appear. "The policeman hinted that the appearance was needed regarding a questioning about the video I recorded back in April, allegedly insulting the president," Roman has explained.

He has assured that he had insulted nobody in that video and did not even name the president, but he stated that "people were illegally deprived of their land."

According to Kharitonov, the video clip attracted law enforcers' attention, when Anna Kolmagortseva, a blogger, had reposted the clip in her Telegram channel.

Roman has also stated that law enforcers took him to the police station and beat him up there, trying to force him to sign protocols about the videos insulting authorities.

"One of them was holding me, and the other was hitting me on the head with all his might with the Criminal Code," Roman Kharitonov has stated.

According to law enforcers, Roman had committed an administrative offense under the article of "Petty hooliganism". Kharitonov does not rule out that after three fines he may be charged under a criminal article.