It was originally supposed that yesterday would be the last day of the "One Day, One Name" campaign. But, as you all know, Coordination Council member Alexei Gaskarov was arrested.
Today is a day of solidarity with him. Alexei Gaskarov lives in Zhukovsky, a town outside Moscow. He is a well-known anti-fascist activist and defender of the Khimki and Tsagovsky forests. In 2010, he was arrested for taking part in an anti-fascist protest in defense of the Khimki Forest, which investigators described as an attack on the Khimki city administration. Gaskarov spent three months in pre-trial detention (SIZO, a Russian remand prison), and was later fully acquitted by the court. On May 6, 2012, Alexei Gaskarov was beaten on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow after standing up for a protester whom police were dragging across the asphalt. Alexei filed a complaint with the Investigative Committee, but no criminal case was ever opened over the violence used against him. However, the Investigative Committee had not forgotten about him. On April 28, 2013, Gaskarov was seized right on the street while walking to a pet store to buy food for his cat. The driver of a police vehicle conducting operational video surveillance allegedly saw Gaskarov directing a group of participants in the so-called mass riots and personally striking a “law enforcement officer.” The real names of the prosecution witnesses are classified; only their pseudonyms appear in the case materials, because investigators allegedly believe their safety is under threat. Ksenia Sobchak says about Alexei Gaskarov:
http://youtu.be/5egOiBK6ud4 Boris Kupriyanov speaks about Alexei Gaskarov:
http://youtu.be/-wi7DvXB89M And here is a Coub made from a phrase Gaskarov managed to say in the courtroom before he was led away: “Come to the rally on May 6.” Sending support to Alexei, and we will all see each other on May 6 at Bolotnaya.” Gathering starts at 6:00 p.m.; the rally is officially authorized.