Maltsev's supporters complain about mass detentions in Rostov-on-Don

The today's protest action, entitled as "5.11.17", was pre-announced by the oppositional politician Vyacheslav Maltsev. According to his plan, activists wanted to demand a change of power in Russia.

Today, by 1:00 p.m., seven persons were detained in Rostov-on-Don; by 6:00 p.m. the number of detainees reached 13. Rustam Kurbanov, an activist, who was brought to the police station at 1:00 p.m., reported in the evening that he had been beaten up and forced to "confess to a crime," the "OVD-Info" has reported.

Vyacheslav Maltsev, who left Russia in July because of his criminal prosecution, urged his supporters to go out to the streets in their cities today and not to leave them until resignation of Vladimir Putin.

Maltsev had headed the movement named "Artpodgotovka" ("Artillery Preparation")*. His website contains an extensive political programme, which starts with the demand of Vladimir Putin's resignation and proclaims "direct democracy" to be the Russia's national idea. Maltsev was accused of public calls for extremism; he was arrested in absentia and put on the international wanted list. On October 26, the court found the "Artillery Preparation" to be an extremist organization and banned its activities in the territory of Russia.

*"Artpodgotovka" movement is recorgnized as extremist by the court decision and its activities is banned in Russia.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.