RUSSIA: Oposition leader Garry Kasparov leaves jail.

Record ID: 755740

  • Title: RUSSIA: Oposition leader Garry Kasparov leaves jail.
  • Date: 29th November 2007
  • Summary: (W3) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (NOVEMBER 29, 2007) (REUTERS) WIDE OF RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER GARRY KASPAROV SPEAKING TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE HIS HOME ASPAROV SEEN THROUGH SMALL SCREEN OF A CAMERA WIDE OF SCENE (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS GARRY KASPAROV SAYING: "I have to admit that staying five days in prison cell was probably the least unpleasant experience of this adventure, because they were trying to be polite, they were very attentive, but following the instructions of their bosses, they cut all my contacts with the outside world - no lawyers, no telephone calls - so I was locked there, I could receive some papers, I received food from home. But otherwise I was totally cut (off), so that was probably the idea of the punishment." REPORTERS WITH KASPAROV (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS GARRY KASPAROV SAYING: "Now I hope people in the world can see what is happening with opposition activists in Russia, when the regime pays no attention, no attention whatsoever to the legal procedures." KASPAROV WALKING TOWARDS MAIN ENTRANCE OF APARTMENT BLOCK WHERE HIS HOME IS LOCATED
  • Embargoed: 14th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1R31P2YOTOSBO6TTW34T6L05Q
  • Story Text: Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov said on Thursday (November 29) there was no rule of law in Russia and the country risked becoming a dictatorship, as he left jail after serving a five-day sentence for organising an illegal opposition protest. Police arrested Kasparov last weekend after he tried to protest outside the central election commission headquarters over Sunday's parliamentary election, which opponents of President Vladimir Putin say is skewed in his favour. Speaking to reporters outside his home after he was released, Kasparov said he was left cut off from the outside world while being held in detention. "I have to admit that staying five days in prison cell was probably the least unpleasant experience of this adventure, because they were trying to be polite, they were very attentive, but following the instructions of their bosses, they cut all my contacts with the outside world - no lawyers, no telephone calls - so I was locked there, I could receive some papers, I received food from home. But otherwise I was totally cut (off), so that was probably the idea of the punishment," Kasparov told reporters gathered outside his home. He added: "Now I hope people in the world can see what is happening with opposition activists in Russia, when the regime pays no attention, no attention whatsoever to the legal procedures." Russian officials say Kasparov and his supporters are dangerous radicals with only marginal support who are trying to undermine Russia's political stability.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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