No wonder they were starving

On June 10, the Novosibirsk Regional Court ordered the release from custody of artist Artem Loskutov, who was suspected of drug possession. Loskutov is the organizer of the annual May Day youth protest “Monstration,” which apparently irritates the authorities with the obvious meaninglessness of its slogans and general gaiety. Loskutov was arrested in May of this year after he refused to attend a conversation at the local Center for Combating Extremism. He himself and his relatives claimed that drugs were planted on him. RIA Novosti reports that the decision to release Loskutov was met with thunderous applause. In connection with the arrest of Loskutov, as well as the violation of their own rights in St. Petersburg, local artists went on a hunger strike that lasted more than ten days. The local Center “E” also drew attention to them in connection with a harmless artistic event. However, the Human Rights Council of St. Petersburg also paid attention to them and decided to make a number of official statements in connection with the dispersal of their action and the detention of Loskutov. According to the Novosibirsk city website, the judicial panel of the cassation instance court of the Novosibirsk region announced that the Dzerzhinsky district court that made the decision about the arrest of Loskutov, did not take into account all the information about the suspect: “From the official materials of the case it follows that Loskutov, born in 1986, has not previously been brought to criminal or administrative liability, is registered in the city of Novosibirsk, is a 5th year student at NSTU, where he has a positive character.” Preliminary The investigation into Loskutov’s case has been extended for two months. Until the next meeting of the Dzerzhinsky court, which must choose a different measure of restraint for him, Loskutov will be free.