"Express-Chronika" No 1473, February 20, 1995

6 people were arrested during the symbolic action of hanging mourning stripes in connection with events in Chechnia. Action took place on February 19 as a part of "Action Week" of February 19-26 carried out by organizations members of the Treaty "For Peace And Liberty, Against Bloodshed In Chechnia". Participants of the action hung mourning stripes of black (by European tradition) and white (by Vainakh tradition) colours on trees and poles of Tverskaya street in Moscow.

Action started on 11 AM. From Belorussky railway terminal, on the left side of Tverskaya street stripes were hung by members of Buddhist order "Nippo-jan Meho-ji"; on the right side stripes were hung by members of Moscow "Memorial" Society, Youth center on human rights and culture of law and members of Independent youth league.

In about 10 minutes after the beginning of the action militia arrested three people near the Triumphal square: a representative of International religious organization Quaker Peace Service, citizen of UK Chris Hunter, and citizens of Russia Metalnikov and Eisman. The arrested were brought to 10 Militia department (25, 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya str.). Meanwhile, militia men stopped a member of Law protection center and the leader of Research Center "Memorial" Alexander Daniel and demanded to present his passport. After A.Daniel showed a document, they asked him about goals of the action and left.

About 11:40 AM militia arrested member of Buddhist order Vladimir Kotliar, Alexander Daniel and member of Council of Law protection center "Memorial" Yan Rachinsky. They were brought to 108 militia department (7/2, B.Palashevsky side-str.) In about an hour after the arrest the participants of the action were set free. Chris Hunter got a verbal warning. V.Kotliar was informed that now he lives in Moscow without a registration, so he must register in Interior affairs department. They took the appropriate receipt. As to Metalnikov, Eisman, Daniel and Rachinsky, collaborates of militia department arranged a protocol on delinquency. They are accused according art.144 ("breach of sanitary condition of the city") of Administrative Code of Russia.

As militia men inform, the protocol will be submitted to the administrative commission at the prefecture of Central district, that resolves questions on administrative delinquencies in a non-court order. The commission is authorized, in particular, to impose a fine. "In this case,"-- A.Daniel told a correspondent of "Express-Chronika",--"we will certainly appeal actions of the commission in the court."

According to A.Daniel, militia men didn't tear off the stripes.