St. Petersburg Rights Activists Appeal To Interior Minister For Help

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Human Rights Center in St. Petersburg has officially asked Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev to begin investigations into the alleged beatings of demonstrators by city police.

On March 27, St. Petersburg police detained about 15 demonstrators supporting Kherson Machine-Building Plant workers who were demanding their unpaid salaries. The protest was without the permission of city authorities.

Those detained say they were severely beaten and humiliated, even though they cooperated with police at the station.

Human Rights Council member Yury Vdovin told RFE/RL's Russian Service that the police who beat the detained protesters must be punished. He said the authorities would not change their attitude toward citizens and their rights unless people stand up for their rights.