18:00, 20 February 2010

Novorossisk: human rights activist who represents Dymovskiy's interests arrested

Today, the magistrate court of Novorossisk has ruled to arrest the human rights activist Vadim Karastelyov, who represents the interests of Major Alexei Dymovskiy, for seven days. Yesterday, the court found Karastelyov guilty of holding a non-authorized rally and fined by two thousand roubles.

Karastelyov's advocates plan to appeal against both rulings, as the "Gzt.Ru" reports.

Vadim was detained on February 19 when distributing leaflets with information about the forthcoming rally in support of Alexei Dymovskiy. In the opinion of the human rights activist, he had broken no law, since the rally to be held on February 21 was coordinated with the city administration.

However, according to Alina Sokolenko, press secretary of the Novorossisk UVD (Interior Department), Karastelyov "refused to stop the non-authorized assembly, expressed disobedience to lawful order of militiamen and surrounded himself with elderly women," after which he was detained and brought to the on duty station of the Primorskiy ROVD (District Interior Division) of Novorossisk, the "Gazeta.Ru" writes.