Newsletters / Weekly Human Rights Report
Hello everyone! The Open Russia Human Rights team has had a very busy week and we thought you’d like to know what we’ve been up to.
We would also like to remind you that we work exclusively on the basis of donations. In today’s Russia political oppression is a fact of life, but you can help us provide support where it is most needed by making a donation here.
Lawyer Badamshin appeals use of anti-extremism law in Constitutional Court
May 31. Moscow. Evgeniy Kort
Evgeniy Kort saved a picture to his VKontakte profile which was deemed “degrading to non-Russians”, and was subsequently sentenced using a Russian anti-extremism law. Lawyer Sergey Badamshin appealed the decision, pointing out that this particular law contradicts the Russian Constitution, as it is an attempt to prosecute a citizen for their political activity or expressing an opinion. Badamshin had previously appealed the court’s decision, and thus Kort was given a 200,000 ruble fine, rather than a prison sentence.
Deceived shareholders given minimal punishment for picketing
June 1. St. Petersburg
Shareholders were detained for conducting pickets outside the offices of a construction firm. According to the police, they were participating in an “unsanctioned demonstration”. Open Russia lawyers defended the activists in court and managed to secure the minimum punishment: 10,000 rubles. The ruling will be appealed.
Open Russia coordinator accused of connections to “undesirable organisation”
June 2. Krasnodar. Yana Antonova
Yana Antonova, Open Russia coordinator for Krasnodar, is being prosecuted for allegedly participating in the organisation “Otkrytaya Rossia”. Our lawyer Oleg Eliseev has appealed the prosecutor’s decision. Antonova is due to face trial on June 15.
“Artpodgotovka” activist sought for criminal prosecution for Vkontakte picture
6 June. Postov-na-Don. Alexander Konovalov
Police officers broke into the apartment of activist Alexander Konovalov to conduct an “inspection”, and then proceeded to take him down to the police station for questioning. Kovalov has said that the authorities are trying to prosecute him through an anti-extremism law for saving “illegal literature” and “extremist” pictures on social media site Vkontakte which were deleted back in April. Our lawyer Nikolai Kladovoy has been providing legal help to Konvalov and has filed a complaint to the prosecutor against the police’s conduct.
Open Russia lawyers file complaint to Moscow Court for raid of Vyacheslav Maltsev’s apartment
June 6 & 7. Moscow. Vyacheslav Maltsev
In April, police officers and members of the security services raided the apartment of politician and public figure Vyacheslav Maltsev. The officers confiscated technological equipment, promotional materials and documents and took them away to Moscow. In court, he was sentenced to 15 days detention for allegedly defying police during the March 26 anti-corruption protests. Our lawyers have filed a complaint against the police officers and investigators involved in the raid of Maltsev’s home.
Open Russia activist found not guilty for conducting a lone picket
June 8. Ulyanovsk. Igor Toporkov
In February Igor Toporkov held a lone picket calling for the head of the local Ministry of Internal Affairs to step down. Toporkov was also involved in organising the March 26 anti-corruption demonstrations. Two days after the events took place a case was opened against Toporkov for supposedly organising an unsanctioned month-long picket. Our lawyer Tatiana Gofman has appealed the court’s decision and has managed to secure a retrial.
Activists who delivered 2 million signatures calling for Chechnya inquiry to face trial in June
June 21. Moscow
Two hearings are due to take place at the Tverskaya court involving activists Marina Dedales and Valentina Dezhtarenko. On May 11 five people delivered two million signatures to the Attorney-General’s office calling for an inquiry into abuse of gays in Chechnya. They were subsequently arrested by the police for conducting an “unsanctioned demonstration”. The police officers were also summoned to the court as witnesses.