The ECHR awarded compensation to the leader of an independent trade union

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has awarded Alexander Zakharkin, leader of the independent trade union of Surgutneftegaz employees, compensation of 6,000 euros. It is reported by "Kommersant".

The court also ordered the Russian Federation to return to Zakharkin a fine of 25 euros (1,500 rubles) paid in accordance with the decision on an administrative offense. According to the ECHR, the Russian authorities violated Article 11 (the right to freedom of assembly) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in relation to Zakharkin.

An activist from Surgut was fined for a series of one-man pickets held on the day of the Russian Constitution in 2009. The Russian court considered Zakharkin the organizer of the uncoordinated rally, which took place in the format of five single pickets - he allegedly instructed the participants in the rally and took them to picketing sites. Zakharkin himself stated in court that he did not organize the action, but only controlled that its participants did not violate the law on public events.

The Russian authorities, answering the questions of the ECtHR in the case of Zakharkin, indicated in the memorandum that they had detained him and the picketers out of concern for their health. On December 12, 2009, it was 38 degrees below zero in Surgut, and the police considered that people were in real danger of hypothermia.