17 September 2012 "Pole Svobody": THE FEAR OF AUTHORITIES FOUND EXPRESSION IN POLITICAL REPRESSIONS

As informed by the lawyer and human rights defender Evgeny Arhipov to Press Service of the Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights despite the actual prohibition of "Pole Svobody" festival, the authorities are still afraid of the event which found expression in political repression towards the followers of "Pole    Svobody".
As informed by the lawyer Evgeny Arhipov one initiated a criminal case on unsubstantiated grounds against Vladimir Lysenko, the Chairman of Horticultural Noncommercial Society "Matveevka" in Domodedovo, who provided an alternative area in the territory of the Society for "Pole Svobody" festival on the 8th and 9th of September    2012.
Be reminded that on the 4th of September 2012 the authorities prohibited the holding of "Pole Svobody" festival upon the pretext that lake shore in Danilovo village is a private property. According to Evgeny Arhipov, Vladimir Lysenko offered to the oppositionists an alternative:  to hold the festival in the territory of Horticultural Noncommercial Society, installing the stage on the playground, and provide space for opposition camp. On the 6th of September 2012 Vladimir Lysenko delivered to the organizers of "Pole Svobody" festival a written permission to hold an event and the same day the criminal case was initiated.

However the criminal case initiation was not the end of the story. On the 12th of September 2012 designers came to Matveevka to make pictures of the playground and to inform the residents that the playground would be confiscated for state needs: on the playground in Matveevka there will be administrative buildings to service the tollbooths at the 52nd km of M4 DON highway as well as parking.  As informed by the local residents one also plans to deforest green space in Matveevka and perennial lindens in Gosfilmfomd alley.  According to the local residents this is the only equipped playground in their settlement as well as the only place to hold     meetings.
The local residents believe that authorities want to confiscate the land upon far-fetched pretext: administrative buildings have alredy been built and are located along the Olympic highway, the parking is not required as far as for that purpose the land was allocated in 2010, all projects were agreed upon with Matveevka residents, construction works were completed in 2011. Matveevka residents see no objective reasons to reconstruct the structures of    2011.
As for the initiated criminal case, as informed by Matveevka resident, the head of the social movement "Against toll roads" Svetlana Chernyshova, the local residents believe that the case is fabricated. According to the civil activist, the order on initiation of the criminal case informs about supposed theft of money after their transfer to the contractor's account, however the works were performed in full and at the agreed price which is confirmed by the signed report of completion. As informed by Svetlana Chernyshova, she as well as all other residents of Matveevka saw the whole process of rewiring from delivery of materials to completion of all works; however the Chairman is accused of the theft of all money.  Moreover the contractor itself confirmed that works were completed and money was transferred to its account, so it is unclear where the theft took place.
Svetlana Chernyshova: - I decided to comment on the situation because in fact I am the only person who had disagreements with the Chairman.  No secret that I wrote complaints against him, but I have never referred to the rewiring situation in my complaints as I had no claims with regard to these works. I believe the criminal case is fabricated; it is political lynching for supporting opposition, the attempt to frighten and split Matveevka residents for their civil    activity.
As informed by the lawyer Evgeny Arhipov, on Monday Matveevka residents will submit written notice about the necessity to safeguard the interests of Matveevka residents and impossibility of land confiscation where playground is located and local residents hold meetings.
www.rusadvocat.com