12 March 2008, 21:49
Picket in defence of Mikhail Kriger, opponent of power agencies' activity in Northern Caucasus, held in Moscow
In Moscow, a picket took place in defence of Mikhail Kriger, one of the leaders of the Anti-War Club (AWC), which stands against the strong-arm tactics of Russian authorities in Northern Caucasus. The action was held yesterday, on March 11, in Novopushkinskiy mini-park and lasted from 7 to 8 p.m. Mr Kriger himself was present there.
We remind you that Mikhail Kriger's trial was appointed on March 14. He is accused of taking part in the non-authorized "Disagreement March" on March 3 and rendering resistance to militia at detention. The anti-war activist is under a threat of a 15-day arrest.
Actually, the picket grew into the action of support not only of Mikhail Kriger, but also of many other people, who are pursued, suffer in prisons and colonies on politically motivated charges, as the demonstrators assert.
The human rights activist and oppositionists, who rallied in the Novopushkinskiy mini-park, were crying out in chorus: "Freedom to political prisoners!", "Freedom to Zara Murtazalieva!", "Freedom to Maxim Reznik!", "Freedom to Boris Stomakhin!", "Freedom to Maksharip Aushev!" In the same manner, others political prisoners were enumerated, in particular, Marina Kurasova, head of the branch of the banned National-Bolshevik Party in the Rostov Region, and Nazir Magomedov, an activist of this Party from Dagestan.
The picket, as a whole, passed peacefully, without incidents. The main mass of passers-by gave no reaction and hurried to get away. Six militiamen were loafing about watching the public order.
Author: Vyacheslav Feraposhkin, CK correspondent
