"Strategy-31" activists of Rostov-on-Don to challenge the imposed fines

The participants of the "Strategy-31" protest action, fined under the Administrative Code for holding their event without coordination with the city administration of Rostov-on-Don, would not pay the fine imposed by the court.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that for holding the above non-sanctioned "Strategy-31" action, held on October 31 in Rostov-on-Don, the organizer and two protesters were found guilty by magistrate courts under the Administrative Code of "disobedience to the lawful order of a militiaman" and fined: two by 500 roubles each, and one - by 2000 roubles.

"We'll not pay the fines and appeal against the court rulings. With regard to applications against those who threw eggs on us, so far, we haven't filed claims against them and militia's inaction. We haven't decided what to do on this point yet," Grigoriy Elizarov, applicant of the "Strategy-31" action and activist of "The Other Russia Party", still unregistered in the Ministry of Justice, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Series of similar actions are held in Rostov-on-Don not the first time, despite repeated arrests and detentions of participants, as well as the continuing refusals of the administration to sanction actions in central city; however, protesters note some increased attention to such actions.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by protesters that the average monthly strength of actions in Rostov-on-Don is rather small - 40-50 persons. "In many aspects, of course, this is the result of power actions: people are dispersed, intimidated and pressed not to go to protest actions," said Vladislav Ryazantsev.