During the March of dissenters in St. Petersburg on November 25th Boris Nemtsov, Nikita Belykh and Leonid Gozman were detained. While arresting the leaders of the
Union of Right Forces (SPS) on the Dvortsovaya Square policemen has broken Goizman an arm. In the result Goizman has his arm plastered, and Nemtsov and Belykh who are not injured, hold in Moscow a press conference and imparted details of the detainment to journalists.
Nikita Belykh was delivered to the 34th police station, Boris Nemtsov to that #16, and Goizman to the 79th. For a long time lawyers were not let to them, their mobile phones were seized. Although the officials of the St. Petersburg main internal affairs directorate (GUVD) deny that the detainment has had place, the leaders of the SPS showed journalists reports of the detainment. Belykh and Nemtsov argued that they would bring an action against the policemen. But it doesn’t concern officers of the 16th station. Nemtsov said that they had been responsible and quite correct. They asked for autographs, were photographed with him and promised to vote for SPS.
Leonid Goizman wasn’t in luck. SPS cites the statement of charge: “Took an active part in the illicit meeting. During the march attracted attention of citizens to political problems screaming out ‘Down with Putin!’ and in that way manifested his political views. Didn’t react on demands to cease his unlawful activity and continue violating the law. Put up active resistance, as a result law-enforcement officers had to use force. No special facilities have been used. ”
Leonid Goizman considers that against the policemen criminal proceedings should be initiated. “When I was detained we just walked along a sidewalk. We didn’t scream out any slogans, didn’t carry any posters. When the riot police appeared I didn’t offer any resistance. But in the result I got a fracture of the spoke bone and my dress was all torn”, told Goizman journalists on Monday.
In Moscow the march of dissenters was held a day before and the police also took an active part in it. The meeting was scattered, some participants and journalists were beaten and detained. The opposition leader Garry Kasparov must serve the five-day administrative jail sentence.
According to observers such a close attention of the officials to the opposition meetings provided the best publicity for the dissenters.
