Zoo defenders fined for pickets near the administration of the Sverdlovsk region

The Verkh-Isetsky District Court of the Sverdlovsk Region sentenced four animal rights activists who staged pickets near the regional administration building to fines of 10 thousand rubles, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Yekaterinburg told the New Day agency.

The activists were found guilty of violating Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code (violation of the procedure for holding a mass event).

They were convicted for pickets on June 7, when they came out with posters to the administration building. The police interrupted the rally, detaining four activists.

“Four people stood at a distance of 50 meters from each other, holding posters calling for the protection of animals. The pickets lasted about two hours, then were interrupted, as we believe, illegally, by police officers. They confiscated the posters and took us into the car to give explanations,” Deputy Chairman of the Pervouralsk City Society for the Protection of Animals Mark Sokolovsky told Interfax.