arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Anti-EU protesters beaten and arrested by Moscow police
Urgent solidarity action required

Police arrested 25 people protesting against the EU summit in Moscow today,Tuesday 28 May at 15 45 hrs (Moscow time). Reports so far indicate that five on them were badly beaten. The police are refusing to comment on what is happening to those arrested. Those detained include Sotsialisticheskoye Soprotivlemiye members.

Oleg Shein, an independent member of the parliament and leader of the Party of Labour, has protested over the police action and has been told that those arrested would be released by 21 00 hrs today. They have been charged with
taking part in "an illegal demonstration", and the police intend to bring them to court.

The police had previously sanctioned the protest but then declared it "illegal" at the last moment. When protesters arrived for the demonstrations and tried to unfurl banners they were beat up and arrested people by riot police. The event has been shown on Russian television.

The anti-EU protesters believe this brutal police action has been ordered from above. As the Putin government moves closer to the big bosses' clubs, the EU and NATO, it does not want the 'embarrassment' of protests on the streets of Moscow.

It is vital that to show international solidarity now. The Moscow police should be bombard with protests demanding a full account of what has happened to those arrested and calling of their immediate release.

The address of the police station 'Khamovniki' is: 119048, Usacheva str., Moscow. The telephone and fax numbers are: 245 0104, and 2452426.