When tens of thousands take to the streets alongside you, as in Moscow, it is wonderful and inspiring. But unfortunately, that is not the case everywhere. People in the regions who stand up to local thugs operating under police protection have to show real courage.
Today, Artyom Kosaretsky, secretary of the Altai branch of the Progress Party, staged a one-person anti-war protest.
It is quite a long video, in which you can see how Artyom endures insults and provocation, while patiently and repeatedly demanding that the police present maintain order.
His placard is snatched away, and he has to run after it (from the 14-minute mark). The police bastards only play along with the provocateurs, clearly acting in concert with them.
When it became clear that Kosaretsky would not leave the protest, the Altai thugs-for-hire (“titushki,” pro-regime hired muscle) filed false complaints claiming that he had supposedly attacked them.
Artyom was detained, taken to the police station, put in a holding cage, written up, stripped of his personal belongings, and sent to a temporary detention cell. Viktor Rau, a member of the Public Monitoring Commission for prisoners’ rights, was detained along with Artyom.
The “trial” will take place tomorrow morning.
We send our support to Artyom Kosaretsky and the other brave people in the regions. Guys, we are proud of you.