The only released member of the punk group Pussy Riot, Ekaterina Samutsevich , who received a suspended sentence following a hearing in the Moscow City Court , complained to the European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) about a violation of her right to freedom of expression, illegal criminal prosecution and unjustified arrest, writes the Kommersant newspaper " .

“Ekaterina Samutsevich’s lawyer Irina Khrunova drew the attention of the ECHR to the fact that “even a suspended sentence for Ms. Samutsevich for expressing her opinion” is illegal and violates Art. 10 of the European Convention, which guarantees freedom of speech,” writes the publication, which obtained Samutsevich’s defender’s appeal to the ECHR.

The newspaper notes that Khrunova claims in her letter that Russian courts have repeatedly violated the convention's ban on torture.

“The proceedings lasted all day, and the court announced a break for a maximum of 30 minutes. At the same time, the applicant was deprived of the opportunity to eat, drink water, and sleep properly throughout the entire time. In order to be taken to the Khamovnichesky court, she had to get up at five or six in the morning,” Kommersant quotes excerpts from the document.

According to the lawyer, a detailed complaint to the ECHR will be filed before the end of the year.

“The rules of the Strasbourg court allow the submission of so-called initial letters without waiting for the text of the Russian court’s verdict. Our case will be assigned a number, and we will receive an invitation to file a detailed complaint in accordance with the requirements of the European Convention,” Khrunova explained in an interview with the publication.

In turn, lawyers for other Pussy Riot members told the newspaper that they are also preparing complaints to the ECHR.

“The case itself was unique, and the entire trial violated not only Russian laws, but also international legal norms. told Kommersant In this regard, the decision of the ECHR is guaranteed to be unprecedented,” Maria Alekhina ’s defender Nikolai Polozov .

Kommersant: released Pussy Riot member Samutsevich appealed to the ECHR - Gazeta.Ru