April 14, 2017, 17:16 / Politics

Opposition activist Maltsev was arrested for 15 days for disobeying the police

The Tverskoy court imposed a 15-day administrative arrest on opposition politician and blogger Vyacheslav Maltsev for disobeying the police at a protest rally in Moscow on March 26 that was not coordinated with the authorities.

Maltseva was found guilty under Art. 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (disobedience to a lawful demand of a police officer).

In court, Maltsev categorically denied his guilt.

“Every Sunday at 14.00 my friends and I walk along Tverskaya Street. People in uniform came up and offered to go in for a conversation, I didn’t show any resistance, on the contrary, I went where I was invited,” he said.

In court, the police who detained Maltsev on March 26 testified as witnesses and reported that in response to the legitimate demands of the police, the oppositionist and his supporters resisted them and grabbed them by the uniform.

“After we introduced ourselves and wanted to have a conversation, Maltsev began calling people. His supporters pushed the police away, began to cover Maltsev with their bodies, and grabbed the employees. The police officers later did not have shoulder straps or badges,” said one of the witnesses.

On April 13, Maltsev, who was nominated by the Parnassus party as a candidate in the State Duma elections in the fall of 2016, reported that representatives of law enforcement agencies came to his apartment in Saratov with a search warrant, which resulted in his arrest. Maltsev broadcast what was happening on the Internet. Investigative actions, as can be seen from the resolution, were carried out on the basis of a resolution of the Basmanny District Court of Moscow.

Press secretary of the New Opposition movement Roman Kovalev said that Maltsev suffered a heart attack after his arrest and was taken to Moscow under medical supervision.

According to lawyer Sergei Badamshin, the oppositionist is currently feeling relatively normal.