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Author of the documentary film about Russian opposition is under investigation over Bolotnaya Square disorders case

Searches were conducted at Pavel Kostomarov's home

MOSCOW, December 7 (Itar-Tass) — One of the authors of the television documentary project "the Term", Pavel Kostomarov, is questioned by investigators as a witness over the mass disorders case.

"Investigation work is conducted with Kostomarov, one of the witnesses over the Bolotnaya Square disorders case," an Investigative Committee source said.

Earlier, media reported that searches were conducted in Kostomarov's home.

Kostomarov himself said that the search was already over. He gave no details as he had signed a non-disclosure obligation. "The search is over. I cannot give details. Only one, that the search started unusually early," he said on Kommersant FM Radio, adding that he was asked to sign a non-disclosure paper.

He has a summons for the next working day that is Monday, December 10, to be questioned by investigators. He said he had no attorney yet.

"The Term" is a documentary film of directors Pavel Kostomarov, Alexander Rastorguyev and journalist Alexei Pivovarov about leaders of protests taking place in Russia after the presidential election. It has no plot development line. It consists of episodes that are not meant to be shown on any television channel, but are posted only on LiveJournal and YouTube.

Among the characters are opposition leaders Alexei Navalny, Ksenia Sobchak, Ilya Yashin, Boris Nemtsov, Eduard Limonov and Sergei Udaltsov. It has a video recording of the detention of Navalny after the Bolotnaya Square disorders.

The authors say their work is not chronicle of protest events, but they only record thoughts and emotions of opposition leaders. The episodes have no interviews, no comments, no assessments and conclusions.

Not only opposition leaders are among the film characters. The documentary shows work of volunteers in flood-hit Krymsk. The main person of Episode 898 is Sergei Shoigu, who at the time was governor of the Moscow Region. The film shows how he travelled in a suburban electric train and talked with passengers.

On May 6, the opposition demonstration allowed by Moscow's authorities developed into clashes with police and mass disorders. Demonstrators attempted to break through the police cordon. Some threw bottles and flares and offered resistance to police. More than 400 people were detained for disorderly conduct. Tens of people, including about 30 policemen, were injured.