MOSCOW. Jan 19 (Interfax) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has disagreed with the opinion that the unrest in Baimak, Bashkortostan, has been mass.
"I would not agree with such a wording as mass unrest and mass protests. There is no mass unrest or mass protests there," Peskov told reporters on Friday, while commenting on the Baimak events that led to the arrest of nine participants in the unauthorized demonstration.
The demonstration was held on a square in front of the Baimak District Court on January 18, after local resident Fail Alchinov was convicted of inciting hatred or enmity. Six protesters were held administratively responsible.
"There were certain manifestations, which rather fall exclusively within the purview of local authorities and law enforcement agencies. But I categorically disagree with the fact that they are massive," Peskov said.
Journalists noted that the criminal case was opened on counts of organization and participation in mass disturbances.
"In this case, I used not a legal term, but a term that defines the number of participants. From the non-legal point of view, I do not agree there were some massive actions," he said.
As reported on Thursday, the First Department for Grave Crimes at the Russian Investigative Committee's branch in Bashkortostan opened a criminal case on counts of mass unrest and violence against persons in authority in connection with "mass riots involving violence, including using objects as weapons, among other things" when "several people, including employees of law enforcement agencies, were injured."