In Vladikavkaz, a city in the North Caucasus, a female protester who stood outside the prosecutor’s office holding a placard was detained.

In Vladikavkaz, a major city in the North Caucasus, a woman holding a solo protest was detained outside the prosecutor’s office, reports RusNews.

Yuliya Melnychenko’s poster read: “Everyone is equal before the law. Stop the repression.” She explained that her family was being pressured because of their Ukrainian nationality.

“This includes beatings, confiscation of our land plot without trial or investigation, despite the fact that such confiscation is only possible by court decision, and also the fabrication of various cases against us—both administrative and criminal,” Melnychenko said.

Fifteen minutes after the protest began, a security guard called the police on the woman: five armed Rosgvardiya officers and four police officers arrived at the scene.

“I asked if they weren’t ashamed to detain me in such numbers, when I’m only 155 cm tall, weigh 46 kg, and haven’t done anything illegal. They replied that they felt awkward about it, but were obliged to respond to the request from the Ossetian prosecutor’s office,” Melnychenko added.

She is currently at the Iristonsky district police station in Vladikavkaz. She was already detained during similar protests in September and October.

20:02 Yuliya Melnychenko has been released, writes RusNews.

A report was drawn up against her for failing to comply with behavioural rules during an emergency (Article 20.6.1 of the Administrative Code). Melnychenko was taken to court, but the hearing did not take place: the judge did not leave the consultation room.