A resident of Sochi appealed a warning for organizing a gathering of pensioners

On March 1, Margarita Markelova, who was found guilty by the court of organizing a gathering of pensioners in Sochi on January 15, filed a complaint against the verdict.

Markelova said in an interview with the "Caucasian Knot" that on February 29, when she came to get acquainted with the materials of the case, the representative of the court advised her not to file a complaint against the verdict, warning that this could be followed by a "heavy fine".

According to the pensioner, before filing a complaint, she carefully read the case materials and "did not find a protocol on an administrative offense there."

“However, I found there the full name of people I didn’t know. They were interviewed by the district police officer and gave him explanations on the facts of the gathering of pensioners at the mayor's office on January 15th. But they did not say or write a word about me. Except for one of them, Igor Gorbuntsov," the woman said.

Markelova cited the words under which Gorbuntsov signed: “On the video provided to me, I recognized M. Markelova, who was shouting about the need to block the roadway of Gorky Street. I know M. Markelova as a frequent participant in all sorts of rallies and gatherings.” Markelova, in turn, claims that she did not know anything about this person before, and his words do not correspond to reality.

Igor Gorbuntsov confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he had testified to a police officer about the rally due to the fact that on January 15 he was near the place where the rally was held. However, according to Gorbuntsov, he did not talk about Markelova.

“Not only did I not see this woman that day, I don’t know her at all. And no one showed me any video,” he stressed. - Since I am engaged in the public life of the city, the district police officer called me, suspecting me of organizing a rally. But I did not take any part in organizing this rally, but on the contrary, I asked the elderly citizens to disperse and said that there would be an authorized rally of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, where you should come. There was no talk about Markelov at all.”

Gorbuntsov suggested that the evidence he had given could be subsequently supplemented. Margarita Markelova provided the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent with a copy of Igor Gorbuntsov's explanation. Information about the pensioner is indicated only in the last two lines.

The police officer who questioned Igor Gorbuntsov about the rally of pensioners refused to comment on the statements of Markelova and Gorbuntsov to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. The policeman explained that his leadership forbids him to communicate with the media.