Lermontov: Tiny revolution in North Caucasus
http://papa-i-rabochie.livejournal.com/187207.html - translation for @WeAllOccupy.
Background:
Last year Lermontiv town council was dissolved and a new election was scheduled for March 4 (president election day). The town's opposition parties claimed the dissolution was unlawful and the elections in March violated the regulations and terms. Later the election committee and the town court denied registration as candidates to practically all former deputies, while the court declined party deputy lists submitted by Liberal Democrats and "A Just Russia".
Alexander Dunayev, dismissed ex-mayor, was also denied the right to compete in the election. In Lermontov the mayor is appointed by the town council, so Dunayev has lost all chances to return to his post.
Opposition party members called the situation "a hostile takeover" of all the authorities in the town. Why did they decide to occupy the mayor's office on the 21st of February? "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" explained that a court hearing to decide whether to register the candidates was scheduled for that day. Should the claims be denied, the candidates could appeal to a higher court in time before the election. However, the court hearing was postponed to February, 24, so now the angered candidates won't be able to take part in the elections. When the information reached the candidates they went to the mayor's office and declared a hunger strike demanding the local election committee's chairman resignation and canceling the town council election. Blogger Dmitry Noskov claims that Lermontov citizens came to support the candidates but the police blocked the mayor's office doors, separating the strikers from their supporters.
Noskov claims the doors were personally closed by the acting Lermontov mayor Viktor Vasilyev. After that, according to Noskov, 30 people stormed the office, overcoming the police's attempts to stop them. In the evening all police forces assembled at the building, a spontaneous protest rally formed in front of it. TVRain channel reported that OMON (riot police unit) was on their way from the nearby city of Pyatigorsk.
At 3-4 o'clock (Moscow time) in the afternoon the police was ordered to "clear" the mayor's office. Lermontov chief polic officer Evegeniy Vasilyev refused that order.
At 5 o'clock a second order was issued, also ignored by the police.
After that an OMON unit was brought to the mayor's office, but the unit members supported the local police and also refused to disperse the protesters.
23:00 All Lermontov websites blocked, local internet providers ordered to suspend service.
23.10 Nearby cities and towns prepare for similar protests
23.27 Police cordon lifted, policeman peacefully drink tea with the protesters.
Lermontov authorities will not work on February, 22.
23.30 Protesters spend the night in the mayor's office.
00.46 members of 4 parties (INCLUDING Putin's United Russia) are on the hunger strike, all unlawfully rejected candidates plan to join them on February, 22.
Victor Kapustin, 74-year old Communist Party member also taking part in the strike, claims corruption and power abuse in Lermontov are unprecedented and people are ready for anything.
2:55 Rumours say Moscow OMON unit is to be sent to Lermontov.
Local citizens have appealed to Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev and even Stanislav Govoruhin, Putin's campaign team leader, but were ignored.
February 22, 10.33 Local TV channel unavailable in Lermontov
13.50 A state TV channel confirmed information on the mayor's office occupation.
14.33 8 people currently on hunger strike in Lermontov. At 6 AM the city prosecutor, Investigation committee member, Regional election committee chairman and the acting mayor arrived. They spent the morning on a conference and later invited the strikers to join the conference. However, Kapustin claimed the talks "were fruitless".
As of now, the hunger strike continues, the number of protesters in the building has risen to 14. The strikers plan to organize a 2000-strong protest rally on Sunday.
The strikers in the mayor's office.
Supporters inside the office.
Victor Kapustin, the oldest protester, retired miner and communist party member.
Background:
Last year Lermontiv town council was dissolved and a new election was scheduled for March 4 (president election day). The town's opposition parties claimed the dissolution was unlawful and the elections in March violated the regulations and terms. Later the election committee and the town court denied registration as candidates to practically all former deputies, while the court declined party deputy lists submitted by Liberal Democrats and "A Just Russia".
Alexander Dunayev, dismissed ex-mayor, was also denied the right to compete in the election. In Lermontov the mayor is appointed by the town council, so Dunayev has lost all chances to return to his post.
Opposition party members called the situation "a hostile takeover" of all the authorities in the town. Why did they decide to occupy the mayor's office on the 21st of February? "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" explained that a court hearing to decide whether to register the candidates was scheduled for that day. Should the claims be denied, the candidates could appeal to a higher court in time before the election. However, the court hearing was postponed to February, 24, so now the angered candidates won't be able to take part in the elections. When the information reached the candidates they went to the mayor's office and declared a hunger strike demanding the local election committee's chairman resignation and canceling the town council election. Blogger Dmitry Noskov claims that Lermontov citizens came to support the candidates but the police blocked the mayor's office doors, separating the strikers from their supporters.
Noskov claims the doors were personally closed by the acting Lermontov mayor Viktor Vasilyev. After that, according to Noskov, 30 people stormed the office, overcoming the police's attempts to stop them. In the evening all police forces assembled at the building, a spontaneous protest rally formed in front of it. TVRain channel reported that OMON (riot police unit) was on their way from the nearby city of Pyatigorsk.
At 3-4 o'clock (Moscow time) in the afternoon the police was ordered to "clear" the mayor's office. Lermontov chief polic officer Evegeniy Vasilyev refused that order.
At 5 o'clock a second order was issued, also ignored by the police.
After that an OMON unit was brought to the mayor's office, but the unit members supported the local police and also refused to disperse the protesters.
23:00 All Lermontov websites blocked, local internet providers ordered to suspend service.
23.10 Nearby cities and towns prepare for similar protests
23.27 Police cordon lifted, policeman peacefully drink tea with the protesters.
Lermontov authorities will not work on February, 22.
23.30 Protesters spend the night in the mayor's office.
00.46 members of 4 parties (INCLUDING Putin's United Russia) are on the hunger strike, all unlawfully rejected candidates plan to join them on February, 22.
Victor Kapustin, 74-year old Communist Party member also taking part in the strike, claims corruption and power abuse in Lermontov are unprecedented and people are ready for anything.
2:55 Rumours say Moscow OMON unit is to be sent to Lermontov.
Local citizens have appealed to Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev and even Stanislav Govoruhin, Putin's campaign team leader, but were ignored.
February 22, 10.33 Local TV channel unavailable in Lermontov
13.50 A state TV channel confirmed information on the mayor's office occupation.
14.33 8 people currently on hunger strike in Lermontov. At 6 AM the city prosecutor, Investigation committee member, Regional election committee chairman and the acting mayor arrived. They spent the morning on a conference and later invited the strikers to join the conference. However, Kapustin claimed the talks "were fruitless".
As of now, the hunger strike continues, the number of protesters in the building has risen to 14. The strikers plan to organize a 2000-strong protest rally on Sunday.
The strikers in the mayor's office.
Supporters inside the office.
Victor Kapustin, the oldest protester, retired miner and communist party member.