Legal advocacy of “Open Russia” reports:
Police searches are underway at:
– “MBH Media” editor-in-chief Sergei Prostakov’s apartment. His lawyer Gennady Fyodorov has arrived but not yet allowed entrance.
The shared car that had brought Sergei Prostakov to the “MBH Media” editorial office was taken away. A plainclothes operative tried to hit a reporter of “The Commersant” with the car’s door and was urging him to come to have a talk without filming.
Каршеринг, на котором привезли Сергея Простакова, увезли от редакции «МБХ медиа». Следователь в гражданском пытался ударить дверью журналиста «Коммерсанта» и звал его «отойти за угол без камеры». Видео: @mbkhmedia pic.twitter.com/7vbKZHCJkN
— МБХ Медиа (@MBKhMedia) July 9, 2020
– “Open Russia” coordinator Tatyana Usmanova’s apartment.
– “Open Russia” coordinator Olga Gorelik’s apartment.
– Municipal Deputy Yulia Galyamina’s apartment. Her son is the only one inside at the momen. Her lawyer Mikhail Biryukov has arrived but is not yet allowed entrance.
The searches are related to the YUKOS case of 2003. Last time enforcers came as part of this case in 2018, our colleagues were called for interrogation as well.
Members of “Open Russia” believe that this pressure is connected to the rally against Constitution amendments that they are organizing and that is due to be held at Pushkin Square on July 15.
The office of “Open Russia” in Moscow has been searched by police, as reported to “MBH Media” by the organiztion’s press-secretary Konstantin Fomin.
“Search is underway. Plainclothes operatives have led executive director Andrei Pivovarov and coordinator Maria Kuznetsova inside,” he said.
Dmitri Zair-Beka, employee of “Open Russia”, has told “MBH Media” that judging by the CCTV records the search has not yet started. “I saw plainclothes people detaining Andrei Pivovarov and Maria Kuznetsova, I don’t know who they were. There was nobody inside except for Andrei Pivovarov and Maria Kuznetsova. The three of us came to the office to check what was going on,” he said.
On behalf of the “Database” project we officially demand that MVD and FSB officers stopped obeying the anti-popular orders issued by illegitimate leaders of Russian Federation – failing to do so will cause long-term consequences for you. Putin’s New Constitution will not save you from the people’s wrath nor from international sanctions! Our project will continue to identify individuals that violate the basic principles of human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Do not follow unlawful orders! Demonstrate your patriotism and human dignity!
