The ECHR made its first decision in a criminal case on extremism in Russia

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) satisfied the claim of human rights activist Stanislav Dmitrievsky, who was found guilty under Article 282 of the Criminal Code (inciting hatred or enmity). This was reported on the website of the court.

This was the first decision of the ECHR in the case of extremism in Russia, Pavel Chikov, head of the Agora international human rights group, told Mediazona.

Dmitrievsky was given a two-year suspended sentence in 2006 for publishing speeches by the leaders of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Aslan Maskhadov and Akhmed Zakaev, in the Pravozashchita newspaper.

The ECHR indicated in the decision that their statements were not extremist, but contained criticism of the actions of the Russian authorities in relation to Chechnya. The court noted that restrictions on political speech "must be strictly justified" and ordered Russia to pay the human rights activist 13,615 euros in compensation.