ADC "Memorial" was finally recognized as a "foreign agent"

On Tuesday, April 8, the City Court of St. Petersburg rejected the appeal of the Anti -Discrimination Center "Memorial" to the decision of the lower court on the recognition of the organization by a foreign agent.

“The trial was not objective,” Stefania Kulaev, the head of the ADC, quotes the Voice of America, quoted the head of the ADC “Memorial”. “Our defenders were constantly interrupted, and the prosecution could act freely.”

“The court had two opportunities, but the decision made was by no means in favor of the justice and human rights. This short -sighted decision keeps up with the suppression of the Russian authorities of any manifestations of civil society. It is a dangerous precedent that can be used against other NPOs, ”commented Sergey Nikitin, director of the AMNESTY International representative office in Moscow.

More than a year ago, the prosecutor's office announced the report “Gypsies, migrants, activists: victims of police arbitrariness”, presented by the ADC “Memorial” by the UN Committee against torture in November 2012, proof that the ADC Memorial, without registering as a “foreign agent”, is engaged in “political activity”, which is a violation of the law on foreign agents adopted shortly before.

In December 2013, the Leninsky District Court of St. Petersburg recognized the ADC “Memorial” “NCO, acting as a foreign agent”.

According to RAPSI , the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation on April 8 recognized the requirement to register as foreign agents for NPOs who are engaged in political activities and at the same time receive foreign financing.

PS ADC Lawyer “Memorial” Kirill Koroteev told Colta.ru that in connection with the decision of the City Court of St. Petersburg, the defense of the ADC “Memorial” will file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.