Activist detained near St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg

Activist and priest of the Association of Christian Eucharistic Communities Alexander Khmelev was detained near the building of St. Isaac's Cathedral for attempting to hold a single picket. A picketer stood at the ticket office with a banner: “But the Most High does not live in temples made by hands (Acts 7:49) The museum is for the city.” Dinar Idrisov says this on Facebook. According to an eyewitness, one of the policemen immediately rushed to Khmelev shouting “Provocateur!”

St. Petersburg reports upd. Alexander Khmelev to the first Admiralty police department. As Khmelev reported, he was accused of obstructing the procession (Article 5.38 of the Administrative Code).

delivered by OVD-InfoA single picket took place during a religious procession of supporters of the transfer of the cathedral building to the Russian Orthodox Church.