A protocol was drawn up against a lawyer from Altai for organising a rally because people came to support him at court.

This summer, lawyer Dmitry Todoshev tried to challenge a municipal reform in court that would abolish local self-government in the Altai Republic.

On 18 August, several hundred people dissatisfied with the reform gathered outside the court building. After the hearing, Todoshev told them that his claim had been rejected and the crowd dispersed.

According to the lawyer, on 16 October he was summoned to the police so a protocol could be drawn up against him for “an unauthorised rally at the court building.” He was charged with organising the gathering (Article 20.2, Part 2 of the Administrative Code).

The outlet “7×7” drew attention to Todoshev’s account.

• Earlier, due to public gatherings outside the court, Altai activist Aruna Arna was fined; the authorities also considered her to be an organiser of the events. She is currently in pre-trial detention on a criminal charge of “justifying terrorism.”