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Sergei Krivov
is one of 27 people who
are currently on trial because of their involvement in
the mass demonstration on 6th of May 2012. On that date,
immediately before President Putin's inauguration, about
100,000-120,000 people took part in a peaceful protest
in Moscow. The police suddenly blocked the way to
Bolotnaya (Swamp) Square where the SANCTIONED march was
to terminate thus provoking a clash with the protesters.
Then the police announced the demonstration was
cancelled and immediately attacked the protesters,
beginning to disperse them with the aid of batons and
tear gas. As a result, approximately 600 people were
arrested on the spot, hundreds were injured. Criminal
charges were initiated not against the unlawful police
officers but against the lawful protesters for
participating in mass disorder and acts of violence. 27
people were selected by the authorities to serve as
examples in a theatre of show-case prosecutions.
Sergei Krivov holds a PhD
in Physics-mathematical Science. He is married and has two
children, 9 and 12 years old. He is also supporting his
mother who is an invalid. Krivov is a member of the
Party of Peoples Freedom (PARNAS), a social activist, a
constant participant of the actions 'Occupy Sud (Court)'
which are to support political prisoners and an
independent observer of the elections.
Sergei Krivov was arrested on
the 18th of October 2012. The basis for his arrest was the
statements of two soldiers of the elite unit the OMON. According to them, Krivov took away a baton from one of them and hit
another. Curiously, the video does not show anything
like that. Krivov has admitted that he indeed took away the baton but
did it only to prevent the beating of other
demonstrators and that he did not hit anyone.
As a protest against his false accusation and
imprisonment Krivov began a hunger strike which lasted
from 14th December to 26th January. He stopped it when he
realized that without being linked into a supporting external campaign
he could achieve nothing but death.
His
case is typical of those protestors who have the ill
fortune to be married with small children and aged
parents: the prosecution uses them to pressure the
prisoner to collaborate. Thus, his wife over many months
has been unable to receive his Power of Attorney for
control over their car, property, and his bank account because the
detectives and the prison administration refuse to
provide
the signed papers. The court in turns refuses to do anything
about that.
It is
not surprising then that despite his severely ill mother
and his children the court refused to move Krivov under
house arrest. The official reason for the refusal is
standard: the court is concerned that the defendant may
continue his criminal activity, in case of Krivov "that
after committing the original crime he continued his
criminal activity - participated in meetings and even
picketed the Court". Therefore Krivov, just like other
imprisoned demonstrators, has been jailed for months
before the actual court and the sentence.
Despite his difficult
circumstances, Sergei Krivov has been frequently
commented on by lawyers and journalists for his optimism and
unbending spirit.
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