Police detained activist Vladimir Shipitsyn during a regular Saturday protest in support of CrimeanTatars, organised by Strategies-18 in St. Petersburg, Russian mass media inform. Vladimir waswearing a T-shirt with tamgha, and holding a Ukrainian flag and a poster ‘Freedom for prisoners ofHizbut-Tahrir Case’.
Police officers reportedly detained six protesters. Shipitsyn fell down during detention. While he wason his way down, the plastic flagstick he was holding, knocked off a cap from a police officer. TheGatchina investigation department of the investigation directorate in Leningrad Oblast initiatedcriminal proceedings pursuant to Article 318 Use of violence against a public official of Russia’sCriminal Code. The activist was sent to a temporary holding facility.
Background: Russian activists untied in a continuous protest called Strategies-18 as a tribute todeportation of Crimean Tatars on 18 May 1944. They hold street protests on the 18th every month.
