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Russian police take hospitalized activist away to face new charges

December 23, 2011

MOSCOW – The coordinator of Russia's opposition Left Front movement has been taken from a Moscow hospital by police, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Sergei Udaltsov was hospitalized on December 18 while serving a 15-day jail term after his health worsened due to a "dry" hunger strike in which he didn't eat or drink.

Udaltsov's lawyer Violetta Volkova told RFE/RL that a police convoy arrived at hospital No. 64 and took Udaltsov away. He has been charged with avoiding his trial.

His current jail term is due to end on December 25.

Volkova said her client is being charged with failure to show up in court on December 15. Volkova said the charge is "ridiculous" because on December 15 Udaltsov was in custody serving his jail term.

While in hospital on December 22, Udaltsov called on all of his colleagues and supporters to take part in the mass protest by Russian opposition activists in Moscow on December 24.

In a statement on his wife Anastasia's Twitter account, Udaltsov also called on opposition forces to create a "Committee of National Salvation" which would coordinate opposition forces' activities.

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Topics: Opposition,