"American, free!": They did not dare to detain a US citizen at a rally in Moscow. VIDEO

12 June in Moscow, was marched to support investigative journalist Ivan Golunov, who was previously arrested, accusing him of trying to spread drugs. Golunov denied his guilt, there were many inconsistencies in the case, and the public decided to speak out in support of the journalist. He was released on June 11, but activists did not cancel the march scheduled for Wednesday.

Since the action was not coordinated with the city mayor’s office, the police massively detained its participants. According to the press service of the Moscow police, 200 people were detained, but Russian security forces did not dare to put a man who called himself an American into a paddy wagon, he writes, “New time".

A video of the incident, filmed by an eyewitness, was published on the Washington Regional Committee page in a microblog Twitter.

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It shows how one of the security officials, having learned that a foreigner was brought to him, criticized his colleagues for such an ill-considered act.

“Who brought the American? The American is free! ”He said, after which the foreigner left, and the second detainee, who was not fortunate enough to be a US citizen, remained at a loss near the autosack.

"Who brought the American? American, free!"

Russian, feel like a man of the third grade in Russia! pic.twitter.com/Yr6AIiGICR

- Washington Regional Committee (@_Fashington) June 12, 2019

In total, the rally, according to police estimates, was attended by a 1 200 man, writes RBC.

Participants of the march demanded to punish those guilty of the unreasonable pursuit of Ivan Golunov, a special medalist of “Medusa”.

“For the commission of administrative offenses under Art. 20.2 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, more than 200 people were detained, ”the Moscow police said. The detainees are said to be taken to police stations for investigation.

At the same time, the human rights project OVD-Info estimates the number of detainees in more than 400 people.

Among those detained at the rally were journalists, in particular Veronika Kutsyllo, Vitaly Petleva, Evgeny Snegov, Anna Narinskaya, Tatyana Malkina. Alexey Navalny, the head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, was also detained.

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The Russian Union of Journalists demanded the release of all detained media workers.

“While ensuring the safety of citizens in mass actions, it is necessary to strictly observe the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the right of citizens to join, as well as the rights of journalists to cover the events. When detaining journalists, we must not forget Art. 144 of the Criminal Code (impeding the lawful activities of journalists), ”said the address of the head of the Union of Journalists Vladimir Solovyov to the police.

The Standing Committee on Freedom of Information and the Rights of Journalists of the Human Rights Council expressed concern about the fact that media representatives were detained at an uncoordinated action.

The Moscow mayor’s office earlier called for refusing to participate in the unauthorized march of 12 June and warned the organizers of the action of responsibility.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• The spetskor of the Medusa edition, which specializes in investigative journalism, detained on June 6 in Moscow. He was accused of attempted sale of drugs: allegedly in Golunov found a few grams of a prohibited substance.
• The journalist denied his guilt, the examination did not reveal traces of drugs in the journalist’s blood. Colleagues Golunova declared his innocence and fabrication of the case. He himself said in court that he had received threats in connection with the new investigation into the funeral business in Moscow.
• After the detention of Ivan Golunov, journalists in Moscow and other cities began indefinite pickets in his support, and on March 12 planned a march of solidarity with a colleague. Despite the fact that the day before the march he was released, many have decided not to refuse to hold the action. Golunov himself called not to go to the action, but “spend time with loved ones”.
• Golunov’s arrest is not the only time in Russia detained activists and journalistsimposing various charges against them, including drug possession and theft of sausage.

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