G8 Delegates Hotel Blockaded St.Petersburg 16.07.06
international |
anti-capitalism |
press release 
Sunday July 16, 2006 23:31
by G8-int - G8 2006 Info and Press Group
g8-int at riseup dot net
berlin
Russian 'Network Against The G8' and international activists blockaded the entrance of a hotel in St. Petersburg where delegates of this year's G8 summit were staying
Police heavy-handed.
G8 Delegates Blockaded in Hotel in St. Petersberg. Protesters Arrested.
By "G8 2006 Info and Press Group"
This morning (16/07/06), around 30 people connected to the Russian "Network Against G8" blockaded the entrance of a Hotel in St. Petersburg where delegates to this year's G8 summit were staying.
The street was blockaded, banners held and flyers distributed. The message was, "No G8 Anywhere".
Anti-capitalists from Berlin, Cardif, Chishinau, Kiev, Minsk, Moscow, St. Petersberg and Warsaw took part in the action.
Police attacked the demonstrators and everyone was arrested. Some sat down and had to be carried away, others were brutally grabbed and dragged from the street.
A nearby photographer, suspected of being connected to the demonstrators was also arrested.
Those in custody have been refused food, water and access to lawyers.
This afternoon, an anti-G8 demonstration took place in Berlin, ending with a rally in front of the Russian embassy. A demand was issued for the immediate release of all protesters arrested for their alleged involvement in actions against the G8.
At least some of those arrested have been take to Police Station number 28, Marat Street 79, St. Petersburg, Russia. The phone number is +7 (812) 764 28 02. People have been asked to ring and show support for activists detained.
The following numbers are for embassies in St. Petersburg:
Germany +7 (812) 320 24 00, fax 579 32 42
Britain +7 (812) 320 24 00
Poland +7 (812) 336 31 40
Ukrain +7 (812) 271 47 00, fax 271 47 77
Netherlands +7 (812) 334 0225, fax 334 0225
People are requested to ring and ask embassies to enquire into the well being of arrested demonstrators.
One of those arrested in Maxym Butkevich, a journalist from Kiev in the Ukrain and a participant in the Network Against G8. He has been threatened with worsened treatment after having requested a lawyer.
For further information, see:
http://int.ru.indymedia.org/
Or call the Legal Team on: +7 911 762 92 38 or +7 911 762 92 47
Or visit their live journal (in Russian only) at: http://g8_legalteam.livejournal.com/
Further information will also be posted to http://presse.gipfelsoli.org
Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3300+ Demonstrate in Berlin Against the G8 and Repression
By "G8 2006 Info and Press Group"
A demonstration organised by anti-capitalist and anti-fascists groups took place in Berlin today (16/07/06). Around 300 people took part in the demonstration which began at 2pm. The demo ended with a rally outside the Russian Embassy.
Information about the latests actions and the resultant repression was announced and a demand was made that those who took part in the blockades of the hotel where G8 delegates were staying early this morning -- along with all those arrested over the last few days -- be immediately released.
The police consistently harrased demonstrators, claiming that banners being carried were too long(!), that people were not allowed to carry glass bottles from which they were drinking (in the 30 degrees plus heat), and that someone had (shock, horror!) sat on a car bonnet. At least one arrest was made.
The demonstration follows a smaller, spontaneously organised demonstration on Friday demanding an end to repression in Russia.
To see the original call for the demonstration (in German only), see: http://aw.antifa.de/
http://presse.gipfelsoli.org/
G-8 protest march lasts 300 feet, ends at police cordon
Despite being unable to take their protest to the streets, participants said the gathering was useful nonetheless.
‘‘I can see now that it’s not just a dictatorship, it’s a crazy one,’’ Garret Mullan, a member of Socialist Party of Ireland, said of the scene at the stadium
http://www.chieftain.com/national/1153041947/5
Report July 15
St.Petersburg.
kirov stadium is still blocked.Locked inside the stadium people shout: "freedom","no to police goverment","revolution"...
The goverment officials are making statement in a mass media that conditions at the Second Russian Social Forum are great and that any arrested people have been released.This is not true.The 'Militsiya'(official name for Russian police) are saying that the demo is only allowed on the premises of the stadium so that is why it is blocked.The protesters are saying that this is violation of their human right to demonstrate.
According to the legal team which helps activists with legal advice by 3pm on July 15 (yesterday) 30 people were arrested. Among them is a leader of the Youth Left Front group Ilja Ponomarev.He is also an organiser of the Second Social Forum.He was physically abused by the police and now is under arrest in police station number 76.His mobile is swiched off.Police claim that he resisted arrest and abused a police officer.By russian laws he could be given up to 5 years in prison or be fined 200.000 rubles (about €6000-that is a lot of money in Russia-18mths average wages).
5tv.com.ua/rus/newsline/186/0/28247/
link with a video info about arrests in St.Petersburg.
One of the main alerts at the moment is that many of the arrested activist are being threatened with criminal cases.
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