Organizers of anti-corruption rally in Makhachkala insist that it was legitimate

The leader of the Union of Dagestani NGOs named "Otechestvo" (Homeland), who was one of the organizers on October 3 of an anti-corruption rally in Makhachkala, has held a press conference, where he stated the legality of the protest action and violations of detainees' rights at the police station.

Let us remind you that on October 3 at 11 a.m., a nationwide anti-corruption rally was held next to the Mayoralty of Makhachkala.

Anti-corruption rally in Makhachkala, October 3, 2011. Photo report of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent Patimat Makhmudova.

On October 6, the press conference was conducted by Ruslan Rasulov, Vice-Chairman of the Union "Otechestvo"; he was also the speaker.

According to his story, "despite the authorities' allegations that the rally was illegal, and, therefore, they were forced to disperse it, the rally was sanctioned."

"The rally was held under strict observance of the regulations on such events. We had submitted all the necessary documents for holding a sanctioned rally to the Ministry of Justice of Dagestan - an application to the Minister Azadi Ragimov. We received an answer from there recommending holding the rally - for security of the protesters and to avoid provocative actions by outsiders - in Rhodope Boulevard," said Ruslan Rasulov.

According to his story, then, the organizers exercised their legitimate right and sent a response that indicated they had not found it appropriate to accept the Ministry's recommendations, since the central square of Makhachkala is the most secure place in the city. Also, the organizers of the rally wrote in their repeated application that the aim of the rally was to fight against corruption and corrupt officials, the need for which was emphasized by President Dmitry Medvedev.

The press conference was shown the second appeal to the Ministry of Justice of Dagestan, which bears a signature of the secretary that she had accepted the document. According to Ruslan Rasulov, they had received no more documents from the Ministry; therefore, all their actions were lawful.

Next, the detained protesters told about violations of their civil rights, namely, a failure to render the health care, prescribed by the law, a ban to make a call to the trust service, and a failure to set up conditions for praying.

It was also reported that Gasan Aigunov, the chairman of the commission of the Public Chamber of Russia for defending the rights of detainees, inmates and prisoners, kept in jail, was not admitted to the police station, where the detainees were held.

They also said that neither detention nor delivery protocols were drawn up at the police station. "We were detained at 2:30 p.m., but only at 7:00 p.m. they drew up a protocol on violation of the Administrative Code, although it is impossible to break; however, the protocols were drawn up with this formulation," said Ruslan Rasulov, who was also detained.

It was also reported at the press conference that all the organizers, protesters and detainees are going to appeal against the illegal actions of law enforcement bodies. They also said that they had already prepared the relevant letters to the Public Prosecutor of Dagestan, the head of the Russian Investigatory Committee for the republic, and the head of the police of the Soviet District of Makhachkala, where the detainees were kept.

The Police Department of the Soviet District of Makhachkala and the Dagestani Ministry of Justice refused to comment the statements made at the press conference to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.