Over 30 participants in unsanctioned rally in St. Petersburg arrested, almost 100 fined

ST. PETERSBURG. Feb 26 (Interfax) - St. Petersburg courts have received several hundred cases opened earlier against those who participated in an unsanctioned rally on February 24, the joint press service for the city's courts reported in a statement on Friday.

"We received a total of 319 cases. Decisions have been issued on 203 [of them]," the court press service said.

Data provided by the press service suggest that more than 30 people have been arrested for up to 15 days. Almost 100 offenders have been fined 5,000 to 15,000 rubles. Another two have been sentenced to mandatory labor.

Courts have delayed hearings on more than ten cases, returned 40 cases to police and terminated proceedings on 27 cases, the press service said.

The offenders' actions have been classed as organizing massive simultaneous visits to and (or) movements in public places by people, which entailed violations of public order, or as organizing or holding a public event without due notification of authorities.

Administrative offence protocols filed on the protesters indicate that at least 1,000 people took part in the unsanctioned event. The protesters neglected sanitary standards and rules, particularly those relating to social distancing, and impeded free access to the subway station and residential buildings nearby for passersby, obstructing traffic, according to the protocols.

An unsanctioned rally was held near St. Petersburg's Gostiny Dvor department store in Nevsky Avenue on February 24.

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