Organizers of the “New Chekist” action complained to the ECHR about torture

Activists Viktor Chirikov and Aleksey Knedlyakovsky, who in December 2016 attached a wooden cross to the monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky, appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) with complaints about the violation of their rights. about this with reference to activists. writes RBC

Two activists believe that Russia violated their rights to liberty and security of person, the right to a fair trial and freedom of expression (Articles 5, 6 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights).

In addition, the activists claim that they were subjected to torture (violation of Article 3 of the Convention):

Knedlyakovsky's cell was located in the basement, it was possible to read and write only "coming close to the window located at ground level", and the temperature in the room did not exceed 15 degrees. There was an air vent above the window. Through it, “air was sucked in with a strong noise, which, passing through the ventilation duct, caused a strong vibration. We had to raise our voices to talk at this level of constant noise. The noise, which did not stop at night, also interfered with normal sleep, forcing me to constantly wake up.

“The flat toilet bowl located in the floor did not have a flush tank, it was located behind a small fence with a bag as a curtain, that is, it was practically not separated from the living part of the cell. A strong stench from the toilet bowl was constantly felt in the cell, there was no constant water supply, which created difficulties in maintaining personal hygiene, ”the statement says.

Viktor Chirikov was detained on December 24 in connection with the action "New Chekist" - a wooden cross was erected on the bust of Dzerzhinsky. In the ruling, the judge indicated that these actions are “violation of public order, expressed in clear disrespect for society and entail damage to the memorial monument, by changing the appearance” and arrested the activist for 15 days. the same punishment , who also, as the court decided, took part in the action, and the text of the decision was exactly the same. received Blogger Aleksey Knedlyakovsky

Lawyers believe that "no damage was caused to the monument, if desired, the cross and adhesive tape could be easily separated, which was done a few hours later by the municipal services of the city."