The State Duma will monitor the case of the journalist RBC – RBC

Photo: Yekaterina Kuzmina / RBC

The State Duma will monitor the case of the journalist RBC Alexander Sokolov, who was arrested on Wednesday for participating in a banned organization, for holding the referendum.

The profile of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy drew attention to this case in connection with participation in the journalist of one of the leading publications, known for its publications, said RBC Chairman of the Committee, Leonid Levin. The Committee expects that the detention of Sokolov is not related to his journalistic activities, and we intend to monitor the progress of the investigation, he added.

The Chairman of the Presidential Human Rights Council (HRC), Mikhail Fedotov expressed concern about the harassment of journalists, RBC and also he said that the HRC will follow him. “Every time a journalist is behind bars, it is of great concern to the human rights community. Just as when this happens to lawyers and human rights – these three categories require special attention on the part of civil society “, – told RBC Fedotov.

The Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Ella Pamfilova told RBC that gave the order to his unit to collect as much information on the case Sokolov to understand whether its intervention. “Information in the public domain is very poor. My experts it is collected, then I can understand how it is in my competence, and it is appropriate to my role, “- said RBC authorized.

The international human rights organization Amnesty International is closely following the case of Sokolov, According to RBC head of her Russian representative Sergei Nikitin. “We immediately noticed the business and are now studying it as it relates to freedom of expression and freedom of association”, – explained Nikitin.

“Memorial” and keeps abreast of the case Sokolova and will soon release a statement, told RBC board member of Human Rights Center Sergei Davidis society.

Public Initiative Michael Khodorkovsky “Open Russia” and Khodorkovsky a political prisoner believe Sokolov, said the head of RBC its human rights division Maria Baronova.

Together with Sokolov in jail were former editor of “Duel” Yury Mukhin and colleague recently Valery Parfenov. According to the case file submitted to the Court, they have continued activities of a proscribed organization “Army will of the people” (AVN), which was recognized by the Moscow City Court extremist community in the fall of 2010. After that, according to investigators, the defendants AVN renamed the initiative group of referendum “for a responsible power”, before which set the previous goals and objectives, namely “the creation of initiative groups on referendum.” The true goal, according to investigators, was “undermining the political situation in the direction of instability and change of the existing power illegally,” follows from the case.