On May 18, the human rights project “Support for political prisoners. Memorial recognized as political prisoners the Ossetian Covid-dissidents Vadim Cheldiev, Ramis Chirkinov and Arsen Besolov, convicted in the case of the rally on April 20, 2020 in Vladikavkaz.
Memorial considers the charges against them fabricated in order to undermine any attempts to create independent public associations, suppress criticism of the authorities and free thought in Russia.
As Dosh wrote earlier, activist, opera singer, soloist of the Mariinsky Theater Vadim Cheldiev was found guilty of calling on residents of North Ossetia in his Telegram channel in early April 2020 to come to a people’s gathering in Vladikavkaz and protest against the introduction of a self-isolation regime due to the coronavirus epidemic. As the verdict says, he was supported by local businessman Ramis Chirkinov and Moscow resident Arsen Besolov, the authors of the Telegram chat “Freedom and Honor.”
On April 20, 2020, about 2 thousand people gathered in front of the Government House in the center of Vladikavkaz. The protesters demanded the lifting of the self-isolation regime and the resignation of the North Ossetian authorities. Vyacheslav Bitarov’s attempt to talk to those gathered failed. The action ended in a clash with the police and the National Guard. 13 law enforcement officers were injured. More than 100 protesters were detained.
The Rostov Regional Court sentenced Cheldiev to 10 years of strict regime for organizing mass riots. The court sentenced two other “organizers” Ramis Chirkinov and Arsen Besolov to 8 and 8.5 years in prison. After an appeal, the verdict was upheld.
Speaking in court with the “last word,” Cheldiyev did not admit guilt. “I voiced my dissatisfaction as a citizen, as an individual. I claimed then and I claim now that as of April 6, 2020, there was not a single coronavirus patient in North Ossetia,” he said. Speaking about the rally, Cheldiev said: “We took advantage of Article 31 of the Constitution, which no one has yet repealed, to go out into the streets and demand respect for our rights. After all, according to the Constitution, the source of power in our country is the people.”
Memorial, recognizing the convicted Covid-dissidents as political prisoners, noted the gross procedural violations with which the investigation was carried out and the lack of proof of the charges.
“In fact, in the case there is no evidence or evidence of intent and concerted actions of Cheldiyev, Chirkinov and Besolov aimed at organizing mass riots,” human rights activists emphasize. “An analysis of the case materials and Cheldiev’s statements shows that he did not call for violent actions, but, on the contrary, pointed out the need to maintain the peaceful nature of the protest.”