Persecution of SCM leader in Mytishchi

On the night of June 8-9, 2006 in Mytishchi, Moscow Region, police detained two activists of the Union of Communist Youth (SCM) - Artur Zemlyanikin and an unnamed girl. The young people were handcuffed and detained by police officers in civilian clothes, after which they were taken to the police station, and during the detention they planted a bag with leaflets. On the way, the militiamen let slip that the detention of the SCM activists had been carried out at the direction of the authorities.

The detainees spent the night in the police station. They were examined by both a narcologist and a traumatologist. A. Zemlyanikin was forced to sign an explanatory note under pressure.

On the morning of June 9, 2006, a trial took place on the grounds of resistance to arrest (Zemlyanikin tried to escape from the hands of unknown persons in civilian clothes during arrest), the SCM activist was sentenced to a fine of 1,000 rubles.

On June 10, 2006, a search was carried out at the victim's house, during which the system unit of the computer was seized.

On the same day, it became known that a criminal case was opened against A. Zemlyanikin under Art. 129 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“slander”), the reason for which was the leaflets planted during the arrest. According to Zemlyanikin, the leaflets contained accusations from Mytishchi officials, with references to the articles of the Criminal Code.

Sources

• Political repressions in Mytishchi // Official website of the Communist Party. 2006. June 12.