For the first time, the ECHR allowed human rights defenders to represent the interests of a prisoner after his death

The European Court of Human Rights allowed the human rights group Agora to represent the interests of Chelyabinsk prisoner Vladimir Kondrulin, who died in prison from cancer, after his death. This was reported by the human rights organization “Zone of Law”, which cooperates with Agora.

61-year-old Kondrulin suffered from prostate cancer and had metastases in the inguinal lymph nodes. Prison doctors stated that it was impossible to provide high-quality treatment in detention conditions. However, the courts refused to grant Kondrulin's request for release. In the summer of 2015, the ECHR demanded assistance for Kondrulin. In September, the man died in a tuberculosis hospital.

Subsequently, the Russian commissioner at the ECHR stated that Kondrulin’s complaint is not subject to consideration in Strasbourg, since the prisoner has no relatives. Agora had to appeal to the ECHR with a request to continue its consideration. As a result, on September 20, the ECtHR ruled that complaints in Strasbourg have a moral dimension, including for persons representing the interests of victims, who may have an interest in ensuring that justice is served even after the death of the applicant.

“In view of the exceptional circumstances and the seriousness of the charges brought against the Russian authorities, Agora has jurisdiction in the process based on Kondrulin’s complaint, the European Court said. Otherwise, there was a risk that the facts of a serious violation of the Convention would not have been examined and that the respondent State could evade responsibility,” Zona Prava reports.