The ECHR communicated Dozhd’s complaint about a fine for a survey about the siege of Leningrad

The European Court of Human Rights communicated the complaint of the Dozhd TV channel against a fine of 200 thousand rubles based on the claim of St. Petersburg pensioners, filed after the TV channel’s survey about the blockade of Leningrad. This was reported on the ECHR website

In accordance with Article 10 of the Human Rights Convention, Dozhd complained to the ECHR about an unjustified restriction of the right to freedom of expression. Now Strasbourg judges are demanding that the Russian authorities explain whether this right was violated.

In particular, the court is interested in whether the interference was “prescribed by law” and whether the law was sufficiently clear in its application. The ECHR also demands to indicate what the objective connection was between the Dozhd poll about the siege of Leningrad and the plaintiffs, St. Petersburg pensioners Boris Ivchenko and Yuri Antonov.

Dozhd conducted a survey on whether it was necessary to surrender Leningrad in order to save the lives of citizens on January 26, 2014, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the lifting of the siege. The wording of the survey caused widespread public outcry and sharp criticism of the TV channel. Subsequently, Dozhd's management made a public apology; in St. Petersburg, journalists personally met with veterans.

Pensioner Ivchenko demanded 50 million rubles in compensation for moral damages from Dozhd for this survey, and Antonov demanded another million. The Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow partially satisfied their civil claim on August 7, 2014. Later, the Moscow City Court upheld this decision. Then Dozhd’s representative, lawyer Henry Reznik, spoke of his intention to appeal to the ECHR.