Putin’s course, freedom of expression not included

The Co-Chair of the organization “Voice of Beslan” Ella Kesayeva is facing administrative liability for placing a “road sign” reading “Putin’s Course”.  The sign has an arrow and was positioned so that it pointed to School No. 1 in Beslan where 331 people died in 2004, more than half of them children.

Ms Kesayeva told reporters that she was being charged with placing a road sign without agreeing this with the law enforcement agencies. 

From the photo which can be seen at: http://grani.ru/Society/Law/m.130320.html  the sign has clearly been erected on grass, and one would hardly think it could lead drivers astray).

The action with the placing of a “Putin’s Course” road sign took place in Beslan on 7 November with the participation of relatives of those killed during the storming of the school of 3 September 2004.

Ella Kesayeva says that police watched and removed the sign as soon as everybody dispersed.

“We decided to use this way of expressing our protest at the unprecedented campaign for Putin which has been launched in the republic. As mothers who lost our children, we wanted to remind people what “Putin’s course” is and what it turned into for the residents of Beslan, and what price Russians are paying for that course”.

She stressed that she would not try to get out of the court trial. “We have earned the right to say what we think. And I will express the same truth in court”.

Based on information at www.grani.ru