Human rights activists who arranged a picket by FSB building in Moscow against pressure on NGOs under trial

Today, the magistrate of Meschanski district in Moscow considers the administrative case of violation of rules for conducting public events. Under trial are the Moscow human rights activists who participated in the picket on the Lubyanka Square by the FSB building. The human rights activists protested against accusation of non-profit organizations (NGOs and NPOs) of their links with foreign secret services, runs the statement of the "Public Verdict" Foundation handed over to the "Caucasian Knot."
 
For reference, on February 1, 2006, a group of Moscow human rights activists conducted an announced, but not allowed, picket by the FSB building (Lubyanka Square). The picket was dispersed by the riot squad officers while the picketers (about 20 persons) were taken to the Meschanski district militia station. The group of detained persons includes Valentin Gefter (Institute of Human Rights), Oleg Orlov ("Memorial"), Elena Riabinina ("Civil Assistance"), and others.
 
According to lawyer Alexander Kokorin who, with the assistance of the "Public Verdict" Foundation, represents the interests of Valentin Gefter, Oleg Orlov, Elena Riabinina and others, the persons who were brought to the Meschanski district militia station were actually held there without compiling a report on administrative offence. The detainees were held at the militia station for more than three hours. This grossly violates the existing RF legislation. In the opinion of the human rights activists, such actions of the law enforcing agencies are inadmissible.
 
The human rights activists submitted an application for holding a picket in advance. The authorities responded that it is not allowed to hold the action near the FSB building "due to impossibility to hold the event on the area in question."
 
Shortly before the specified time, the picketers gathered near the Solovki Boulder, following which they moved to the FSB building. The initial attempts to reach it proved to be unsuccessful as militia officers and riot squads blocked the passage to the building from different sides. The participants of the action managed to reach the building by Miasnitskaya Street.
 
The picketers, who numbered about 50 people, chanted: "Let's protect our rights!" "FSB, stop lying!" "Hunt Basaev, not Alekseeva!"