Participants in protests against the construction of a temple on the site of a park in Yekaterinburg were summoned to the Investigative Committee

In Yekaterinburg, Kirill Yaroslavtsev and Aidar Islamov, protesters against the construction of a church on the site of a square near the Drama Theater, were summoned for a conversation in the UK. This was reported by MBKh Media with reference to human rights activist Nikita Tomilova.

Tomilov clarified that Yaroslavtsev and Islamov also received a call from an unknown number from a man who introduced himself as an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and said that they needed to come to the Investigative Committee on December 12 for a conversation.

“The person who called also did not identify himself, but said that the invitation to the UK was connected with the events in the park,” Tomilov was quoted by MBKh media.

The human rights activist stressed that the protesters against the construction of the temple do not intend to go to the UK without receiving an official summons in their hands.

• Kirill Yaroslavtsev and Aidar Islamov were detained on May 14, 2019, during a public gathering in defense of the square near the Drama Theatre. At least 15 protesters were detained that day. According to eyewitnesses, the police used smoke bombs and bright lights to blind the participants of the gathering.
• In the wake of the protests in the square, several criminal cases were opened, in addition to Art. 212 of the Criminal Code, - on hooliganism (Article 213 of the Criminal Code), on damage to other people's property (Article 167 of the Criminal Code) and on insulting representatives of the authorities (Article 319 of the Criminal Code).
• In mid-May 2019, an action began against the construction of the Church of St. Catherine on the site of the square near the Drama Theatre. First, the protesters were dispersed by supporters of the construction, then by law enforcement officers. The most massive detentions occurred on May 15 - on this day, at least 70 participants were in paddy wagons and police departments. In total, more than 100 people were detained during the protests.