Activists of the unregistered party Other Russia protested the Dutch Embassy in London on Tuesday to draw attention to the death of their fellow party member Alexander Dolmatov in the Netherlands.
A participant in the protest lit a smoke grenade and threw a firework on the embassy grounds, Interfax reported.
"None of the activists have been arrested," party spokesman Alexander Averin said, adding that activists from other leftist organizations joined the protest as well.
The Dutch diplomatic mission to Britain has not issued a comment on the matter.
The protesters outside the embassy in the British capital demanded the Netherlands to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Dolmatov, who committed suicide in a Dutch refugee center in January after his request for asylum in the country was denied.
Moreover, the activists demanded to punish Dutch law enforcement agencies for illegally placing Dolmatov in the refugee center and pay compensation to his mother, the Other Russia spokesman said.
Dolmatov, who worked as a design engineer in the defense industry, had applied for an asylum in Holland in June 2012 after he fled Russia for fear of prosecution over his role in the anti-government protests at Bolotnaya Ploshchad on May 6, 2012 . His colleagues said Dolmatov may have committed suicide for fear he would be subjected to a disproportionately severe punishment by the Russian authorities if deported given his defense industry employment.
On Nov. 9 Other Russia members lobbed a tomato at the Dutch King Willem-Alexander and his spouse Queen Maxima during their recent visit to Moscow. A pair of activists were later charged with hooliganism.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
