An action in support of journalist Tolmachev passed off in Novocherkassk

On January, 9, a protest march against the arrest of Alexander Tolmachev, Editor-in-Chief of journal "Pro Rostov" and newspaper "Upolnomochen Zaiavit", was held in Novocherkassk. About 300 people took part in the march.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that Tolmachev was detained on December, 20, 2011, and on December, 23, taken into custody upon the judgment of Novocherkassk city court in connection with the case on which he is accused of extortion. On December, 30, the regional court dismissed the appeal against Tolmachev's arrest.

After the verdict of taking the journalist into custody, on December, 26, a picket in the journalist's protection was held in Novocherkassk. Participants of an action in support of political prisoners in Rostov-on-Don held on December, 30, also demanded Tolmachev's release.

On January, 9, within the framework of a new action in the journalist's support in Novocherkassk a column of protesters marched from Troitskaya square to the memorial to ataman Platov where a meeting in Tolmachev's support was held, web-site "Legal Informational Center of Alexander Tolmachev" reports.

According to eyewitnesses, Mayor on Novocherkassk Vladislav Zhuravlev took part in the action. Tolmachev's supporters from Rostov, Taganrog, Shakhti, Zverevo gathered at the meeting. They consider that the accusation of extortion was inspired by the authorities or the editor's powerful ill-wishers.

The journalist's supporters demanded to release him from custody and carry on an unbiased investigation on the case, "Rostov News Agency" reports.

See earlier reports: "Rostov regional court refused to release journalist Tolmachev," "Supporters of political prisoners detained in Rostov-on-Don are back at large", "Rostov Region hosts picket in defence of journalist Alexander Tolmachev", "Journalist Tolmachev in Rostov region earlier exculpated on clause "Slander" arrested for accusation of extortion".