On January 19, anti-fascist actions to be held in Moscow and other Russian cities in memory of Markelov and Baburova assassinated two years ago

A number of Russian cities - Moscow, St Petersburg, Perm, Tyumen and others - will host rallies in memory of anti-fascists - lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova, who were assassinated on January 19, 2009. The organizers of these actions want to draw attention of residents of their cities to the problem of nationalism-instigated hatred, against which Markelov and Baburova had fought.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Moscow Mayoralty had initially refused to coordinate with the "Committee of January 19" the action dated to the anniversary of the murder of Markelov and Baburova, but allowed to hold a rally in the centre or a march along Taras Shevchenko Embankment. It also took long to obtain a permit to hold a rally in St Petersburg. On January 14, the city authorities sanctioned the action on January 19. However, instead of a rally the organizers were allowed to hold just a picket.

According to "Lenta.ru", Liudmila Alekseeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group, was the official organizer of the action in Moscow. On January 19, the march will start at 7:30 p.m. at the monument to Timiryazev at the Nikitskie Gate and grow into a rally in Novopushkinskiy Mini-Park, which should be over at 10:00 p.m. The coordinated number of participants is 500.

Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, an employee of the Human Rights Society "Memorial", told the "Caucasian Knot" earlier that the Anti-Discrimination Centre "Memorial" was one of the organizers of the action on January 19 in St Petersburg.

Human rights activists of St Petersburg call "all non-indifferent people to support the public action 'Together against Fascism' and come to Troitskaya Square (near the Gorky metro station) on January 19 at 6 p.m."

"We want to draw attention of Perm residents to the problem of nationalism-based hatred and free struggle for one's views, in which our comrades perish. For Perm the problem of fascism is topical like for any other city - young neo-Nazis grow up here. We want their parents to be careful and attentive to rearing them," said one of the organizers of the picket in Perm.

According to her story, the picket was coordinated with the city administration; initially 30 participants were applied. As reported by the local portal "Perm Bridge" it was allowed to use music and posters with slogans at the rally, which will start at 6 p.m. in the square near the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

In Tyumen, commemoration of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova will take place on January 19 at 6 p.m. at the Monument Fighters for Revolution. Local antifascists will lay flowers and light candles in memory of the lawyer and journalist, the portal "72.ru" reports.

On January 19 at midday a picket will be held in Saratov. The event will be organized by local antifascists in Pyotr Stolypin Square with expected 30-50 participants, the news agency "Vzglyad-Info" reports.

It's worth noting here that actions in memory of Markelov and Baburova have already been held in Chelyabinsk and Sevastopol.