Protocols were drawn up against three residents of Altai over a video appeal addressed to the head of the region.

A protocol was drawn up against Oksana Potapova, a resident of Altai, due to a rally at the stele at the entrance to the village of Ust-Koksa, reports the outlet “7×7.”

The protocol under the article for an organiser violating the rules for holding a public event (Part 1, Article 20.2 of the Administrative Offences Code) was based on a video appeal to the government and to the head of the region, Andrey Turchak, asking to preserve rural councils in the region.

In mid-June, eight residents of Altai had protocols drawn up against them over a protest at the Chike-Taman Pass in Onguday District, a major area in the Altai Republic. On 13 June, administrative detention was ordered for at least seven of those detained.

Local residents were protesting against the dismantling of local self-government and the appointment as head of the Altai government’s ex-State Duma deputy Aleksandr Prokopyev.

20:28 On 4 July, police also detained another local resident, Amadu Apitov. This was reported by local activist Pavel Pastukhov.

The man was detained in Onguday District. The reason was, again, the video appeal. A protocol was drawn up against Apitov under an unknown article, after which he was released. His court hearing was scheduled for 7 July.

11 July A protocol was drawn up against former member of the Altai regional assembly Leonid Kazantsev under the protest article (Part 2, Article 20.2 of the Administrative Offences Code). The administrative case file on the Ust-Koksa District Court website was noted by “7×7.” The reason for the prosecution is not clear. It is presumed to be connected to the same video appeal—Kazantsev was one of the three people who gave speeches.

26 July The Ust-Koksa District Court in Altai decided not to fine 73-year-old former deputy Leonid Kazantsev under the protocol for organising an unauthorised rally. This was reported by “7×7” with reference to the court’s ruling from 11 July.

The document states that a report on Kazantsev to the police was written by the head of Ust-Koksa District, United Russia party member Olga Abrosimova.

According to the court, the ex-deputy organised the filming of a video address from Ust-Koksa residents in which they asked the head of the Altai Republic, Andrey Turchak, to preserve rural councils in the region.

The court believes that Leonid Kazantsev orally invited another local resident to the rally so that she would “stand next to him.” He then published the Altai residents’ appeal in WhatsApp groups. The court found that, by not submitting a notice to the district administration about holding the rally, Kazantsev had violated the requirements of the federal law “On Assemblies, Rallies, Demonstrations, Marches and Pickets.”

The former deputy did not plead guilty in the case. He stated that he had not held a rally but had only participated in recording the appeal.

And although the court found the former deputy guilty, taking into account Kazantsev’s advanced age, the fact that it was his first administrative offence, “which did not result in any property loss or harm” to anyone, he was given a warning as punishment.

The headline of the news story has been changed due to information about the third protocol.