Militia attempts to intimidate participants in the action of protests against the law on migration in Krasnodar Territory

On November 14, 2005, in the village of Varenikovskaya, Crimea district, Krasnodar Territory, more than thirty Russian citizens expressed their concern that, in their opinion, the Law of Krasnodar Territory of July 2, 2004 "On Measures to Prevent Illegal Migration to Krasnodar Territory" runs counter to article 27 of the RF Constitution which protects the right of citizens to the freedom of movement and choice of residence.

During the action, the place was visited by Nikolai Kondratenko, deputy head of the Crimea district administration, and Konovalov, deputy head of Varenikovskaya village okrug administration, they handed a letter of gratitude from their leader to Sarvar Tedorov, leader of Meskhetian Turks. The letter expressed "sincere gratitude for the stabilization and strengthening of interethnic relations."

However, as the message of ANO "Novorossiysk Committee for Human Rights" submitted to the "Caucasian Knot" runs, on November 25, Konovalov sent a letter to Krymsk city department of internal affairs where he claimed that the action was aimed at "discrediting the power authorities of the Russian Federation and Krasnodar Territory" and requested that the participants should be brought to administrative or criminal responsibility.

The management gave a mission to militia Captain Vladimir Butenko, district officer of Varenikovskaya village okrug, to undertake measures for bringing the action participants to responsibility. He collected explanatory notes and compiled a report on administrative offence under article 20.2 of RF CAO with regard to one of the participants, thereby violating article 4.5 it. 1 of RF CAO "Time limitation for bringing to administrative responsibility" which establishes that "no decision on a case of administrative offence may be adopted upon expiry of two months from the day of commission of the administrative offence." No copy of the report was handed over.

In the course of the hearing, militia moved assertions and accusations to the effect that the action was aimed against the RF Constitution. They put questions, such as: "Why did you bury the Constitution?"

Lawyer Marina Dubrovina reports that at the end of 2005, the authorities of Krasnodar Territory cancelled the provisions of the Law of Krasnodar Territory No. 735-КZ of July 2, 2004 "On Measures to Prevent Illegal Migration to Krasnodar Territory" and the decree of the Krasnodar Territory administration manager No. 715 of July 20, 2004 "On Measures to Prevent Illegal Migration to Krasnodar Territory", the reason for which the action had been organized.

"Militia officers took an explanatory note from me, too, and wanted to compile a report. We think that, in response to our action to protect Constitution, the local authorities decided to conduct a counter-action for intimidating human rights activists and leaders of ethnic minorities, but their idea proved to be illegal and it failed," states Vadim Karastelev, expert of "Novorossiysk Committee for Human Rights."

The "Novorossiysk Committee for Human Rights" has prepared a letter to the General Prosecutor's Office related to the actions of militia officers of the Crimea district, Krasnodar Territory.