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Opposition's Coordination Council adopts statement on criminal prosecution of activists

The KSO demands that the authorities "stop the practice of putting pressure on the followers of the Opposition and ensure the safety of Leonid Razvozzhayev's family"

MOSCOW, October 24 (Itar-Tass) — The Coordination Council of the Opposition /KSO/ adopted a statement in connection with the criminal prosecution of a number of activists. The KSO mentioned the breakup of the rally in Bolotnaya Square on May 6 and subsequent arrests of its participants on charges of involvement in riots, the Anatomy of Protest-2 film and the arrest of State Duma lawmaker's aide Leonid Razvozzhayev, which the KSO regards as illegal.

"The KSO demands that the authorities stop the practice of putting pressure on the followers of the Opposition and ensure the safety of Leonid Razvozzhayev's family," the statement said.

The document was published in Alexei Navalny's blog. More than half of 45 SKO members had supported the document.

Razvozzhayev was put on the federal wanted list on October 18, while on October 21, he informed the SK about his decision to turn himself in, according to Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin.

Markin said Razvozzhayev had given details of the plans to stage riots that had been considered by Left Front leader Sergei Udaltsov, his aide, and other persons, and reported their involvement in the Bolotnaya Square riots in Moscow on May 6.

The election to the so-called Coordination Council of Russian Opposition ended on Monday evening. Chairman of the Central Election Committee Leonid Volkov told Itar-Tass 81,801 persons had taken part in the voting. Two hundred and nine candidates ran for 45 seats in this body.

Among those elected on the Council were blogger Alexei Navalny, writer Dmitry Bykov, anchor Ksenia Sobchak, one of the Solidarity movement leaders Ilya Yashin, environmentalist Yevgeniya Chirikova, Left Front coordinator Sergei Udaltsov who is on recognizance in the criminal case over preparations for mass disturbances, former lawmaker Gennady Gudkov, and his son, incumbent lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov.

Among the Council members are several persons arrested or wanted on suspicious of involvement in various crimes, including Leonid Razvozzhayev,

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