MOSCOW — Russian authorities knocked down a carwash owned by an opposition activist, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The Dec. 28 story stated that Mikhail Vistitsky is a former paratrooper, and he gained fame with his amateur band the Singing Paratroopers. They are famous for a song that is sharply critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Political group rolls back gas prices
According to Vistitsky, his carwash business was unlawfully demolished overnight. “OMON riot police occupied the premises overnight, without any bailiffs present,” he told the website. “Without any documents or explanations, they started taking people to police buses and stations and destroyed our building. In my opinion, this is real banditry, a real property grab.”
The masked men wore no badges and they refused to identify themselves. Vistitsky rushed to the scene to try and save his carwash. He was detained and accused of damaging the equipment brought to knock down the business.
Casting a carwash vote
While some feel the destruction was made to make way for a shopping center, Vistitsky feels it was a response from the Kremlin in retaliation for his political activism.
"This is clearly meant to pressure the opposition. That's where we held our meetings, that's where our Civic Position shows were filmed," Vistitsky told the website. "The authorities obviously did not like it and took this step."
Read the entire article here.
