Seven persons hold series of pickets demanding Gadjiev's release

Seven activists have held a series of solo pickets demanding the release of the Dagestani journalist, Abdulmumin Gadjiev, accused of financing terrorism. From January 10 on, the law obliges activists to change their usual format of actions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Abdulmumin Gadjiev's colleagues and friends are holding weekly protests in Makhachkala demanding his release.

A series of solo pickets was held on December 4 in front of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the FSB Branch for Dagestan. Seven persons took part in the action. They demanded to stop the criminal prosecution of Abdulmumin Gadjiev and immediately release him. Policemen were on duty nearby, but they did not interfere with the pickets.

Gadjiev's colleagues and friends held pickets while new amendments to the federal law on public events had not yet entered into force, Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the "Chernovik" (Drfat) weekly, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"We still have time to hold pickets according to the old legislative norm, because the law has not yet finally entered into force," Mr Magomedov has explained.

On December 23, 2020, the Russia State Duma MPs approved in the final reading approved Dmitry Vyatkin's legislative initiatives, which tightens the requirements for organizing rallies and other public events. In particular, the law officially treats a series of solo pickets "united by a single idea and common organization" as a rally. The "picket lines", when a picketer with a poster stands alone, but next to him there are other activists who replace him and each other at the picket venue, should be agreed on same as rallies, the "Znak" edition wrote on December 23.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 4, 2021 at 08:24 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.