Sochi activists complain about law enforcers' pressure

Svetlana Lelik and Galina Burova from Sochi have stated that they were arrested under a fictitious pretext for disobeying law enforcers' demands. According to the women, they were subjected to physical and psychological pressure.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 7, 2022, Galina Burova, a Sochi activist, was arrested for assaulting court marshals; she is charged under the article on the use of violence against a state servant. Last December, she was sentenced to six months in colony and released from the courtroom.

Svetlana Lelik said that she was "an activist of the public movement against corruption" and, together with Galina Burova, helped people in trouble. Because of this, they are subjected to pressure from authorities.

According to Ms Lelik, she recently received a lawsuit from a woman about the alleged illegal sale of a land plot. In early May this year, she was summoned to the police station, and asked Galina Burova to go with her.

Lelik complained that they were treated very rudely; they were kept all night in unsanitary conditions, after which they were taken to court, which sentenced them to two and six days of arrest, accordingly. They were also kept at the temporary detention facility (known as IVS) in unsanitary conditions.

"On the second or third day, I managed to get an ambulance called ... The doctor prescribed me treatment and prescribed rest. The next day, I felt sick again," said Galina Burova.