Human rights activists demand an end to the trial of Other Russia activists in St. Petersburg

On June 9, 2012, an open letter to protection of activists of the party "Other Russia" - defendants in the trial Petersburg ("The Process of the Twelve"). Prominent signatories Russian public figures, civil activists and human rights activists consider the process political and demand its immediate cessation. "With the hearing of the case, with each meeting more and more reminiscent of Kafka's "Trial" and reinforces the conviction that for criminal prosecution of political opponents of the regime do not need real evidence, they are created artificially ... - the document says. – …we forced to state that the "Process of the Twelve" is intended to intimidation of people who disagree with the existing political regime ."

" We consider it inadmissible to prosecute persons for far-fetched corpus delicti only for their active criticism of the current authorities ," the authors of the open letter say.

The letter was signed by about 40 people, including L. Alekseeva, S. Kovalev, Yu. Rybakov, Yu. Ryzhov, L. Ponomarev and others.

Lawyer Yuri Schmidt, who also signed the open letter, commented him as follows: " ... I got a completely firm impression, that this case was not started as a legal prosecution of persons who committed crime, but for intimidation. For reprisals against those who, as they say, do not understands the moment when you need to be silent, not stick out and generally stop any opposition activity... Here people have done absolutely nothing going beyond the limits of their rights and freedoms provided for by the Russian Constitution .

Sources

• "The Case of the Twelve" is necessary for the authorities to intimidate the opposition - lawyer Yuri Schmidt is sure // Echo of Petersburg. 2012. June 9.