Penza, 9 October 2015. PenzaNews. The human rights activist Yuri Voblikov, chairman of the regional branch for the Russian civil movement “For Human Rights,” nicknamed “The Gas Mask Man” after his unorthodox protest techniques, has held another one-man picket by the doors of the Penza region Legislative Assembly. According to him, he was barred entry to the 30th session of the regional parliament held on Friday, October 9.

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“I am currently standing there holding a banner: ‘Deputies! Return the human rights ombudsman right to defend rights of man and child in court. Penza citizens are not deprives. 1937 called?’” Yuri Voblikov told PenzaNews agency, reminding how he promoted himself as a candidate for the office of the Penza region children’s rights ombudsman “to facilitate gender competition.”

“It was registered. No word of reply, whether it was reviewed or not. I tried to call everyone yesterday. And today, I hear: ‘You are not on the list for entry.’ And I did write I intend to visit the Legislative [Assembly] on [October] 9th to describe my concept – a five-year roadmap. As an alternative, through contest, in a democratic, open and vocal manner. But I was not in the list,” the human rights activist explained.

Yuri Voblikov also added that he was given a letter from the regional parliament speaker Valery Lidin on the former’s letter, but he was not satisfied with its contents and could not find any representative of the Legislative Assembly who would give him explanation.

“I went outside. Standing here, enlightening the citizens,” he said.