A Sochi activist was fined for holding a prayer service. It was equated to an unauthorized action

The Lazarevsky District Court of the city of Sochi fined the former chairman of the Council of Elders of the Circassians-Shapsugs, Ruslan Gvashev, 10,000 rubles under Part 1 of Art. 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation by the organizer of a public event of the established procedure for organizing or holding an action). Gvashev was condemned because of his participation in the funeral service on the Day of Remembrance of the Circassians. This is reported by the publication "Caucasian Knot".

Gvashev told the "Caucasian Knot" that he was brought to court forcibly, in a state of hypertensive crisis. He called the process "mocking".

In court, Gvashev became ill, and an ambulance was called for him. However, the meeting was not rescheduled, despite the fact that the doctors insisted on hospitalization.

On May 21, near the Tulip tree in the village of Golovinka, Circassians gathered for a prayer service on the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow for the victims of the Caucasian War. Gvashev delivered a speech in the Adyghe language, in which he "urged us to remember our ancestors." After 10 days, a district police officer came to him and said that the FSB was interested in the activist's speech.

Gvashev pleaded not guilty and is going to challenge the verdict.