LINK ("Libertarian News and Information Collective") of the Anti-G8 Network (SPB8).

Press-release no. 10
July 16th, 2006

Contact to LINK: spb8media (at) riseup.net

LINK is not an official media representative of the SPB8 network.

ACTION OF ANARCHISTS FROM THE NETWORK AGAINST THE G8: BLOCKAGE OF THE RADISSON HOTEL ON NEVSKY PROSPECT IN PETERSBURG
JULY 16, 2006

Today, July 16, 2006, at 8.30 in the morning a group of anarchists – participants of the network against the g8 (www.spb8.net) from different cities and countries blocked Nevsky prospekt in Saint Petersburg as a sign of protest against the neoliberal policies of the G8.
The action was held near to Radisson Hotel, where many G8 guests – officials of middle ranks – are living.

Transparants were rolled out saying „They are 8 – we are 6 billion! Not they, we should take decisions!”, „No to capitalism and authoritarianism!, „No G8”, „Network against the G8” and others, participants shouted slogans, among them „No to the Big eight”

According to the press release of the activists, they aimed to „show that there is protest and resistance to G8 no matter where it takes place. (…) Laws are not made by the people who have to cope with them in the end but by those in power.
They continue:
“The blockade of the street and protest which violated these laws is a response to the repressive situation in the city of St. Petersburg, where everyone who does not fit in the picture that the Russian officials and the G8 supporters are trying to create is criminalized.
The G8 as an institution strengthens the role of the elite countries in the worldwide market and promotes hierarchy. It makes decisions for millions of people and interferes with libertarian and selforganised relations between people. The member countries make decisions about direct and hidden wars.”
„There is an urgent need to take action against the G8 summit.” Continues the declaration of the activists that blocked Nevsky prospect in the morning of July 16, “ The protest is taking place all over the world. The growing movement of resistance against those in power can not be stopped by tough police or a president who denies peoples right to say no to this elite club. Today’s intervention with a direct action against the G8 summit is another step not to demand but to work on what is needed - to shut down the G8.

The blockade of the prospekt continued for about two minutes, after which the police and OMON, using ---- dispersed the protesters. 38 people were arrested, including some journalists. Two Associated Press journalists, with accreditation to the summit, were released. The other 36 persons were brought to the 28 police department on 79, Marat St., Tel. +7 (812) 764-28-02), including Ukrainian journalist Maxim Butkevich, who doesn’t have an accreditation but was taking pictures of the brutal behaviour of the OMON forces during arrests.
Together with the activists, one of the members of the „Legal team“ for juridical support was arrested, his mobile phone, which he used to shoot pictures of the arrests, was broken.
At about 14.30 the arrested, among them citizens of Russia, Belarus, the Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom, were transferred to the Kuyibishev Rayon Court at Karavannaya street, 20. The detained are accused of disobedience to legal demands of law enforcement officers (art. 19.3). The consulates of Germany and the Ukraine are seeking to intervene into the events.

IN THE LAST MOMENT:

The legal support group fort he activists informs:

WITNESSES ARE NEEDED!

Those who have been at the event and are ready to testify that the activists have not violated the law, please contact urgently the Legal team activists:
+7 911 762 9247
+7 911 762 9238

Pictures from the action of the Network against the G8 on July 16 on Nevsky Prospect can be found at the following addresses:

ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/15187/index.php

ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/15192/index.php

piter.indymedia.ru/

More detailed information can be received here:

russia.indymedia.org/int
spb8.net
community.livejournal.com/g8_legalteam/