Memorial demands legal proceedings over April 28 protester attacks and police inaction

Russian historical and civil rights society Memorial is demanding legal action over an incident where law enforcement did not respond to protesters attacking a student competition awards ceremony it held on Thursday, April 28.

Memorial is calling for the launch of criminal proceedings against the protesters and for an additional internal investigation against the police officers who took no action to stop the violence.

The protesters shouted insults, hurled eggs and threw green staining disinfectant at award ceremony attendees, which included minors, parents, teachers, and Memorial staff members.

“The police did nothing to ensure the physical safety of students and adults departing from the [ceremony venue],” said a Memorial representative.

Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the attacks “hooliganism” and “an outrage.”

Police detained only one of the aggressive crowd, of which one member assaulted a Meduza correspondent.