The ECHR accepted for consideration complaints against the ban on an article in the Chuvash language in the magazine “Bribe”

On September 18, the European Court of Human Rights united the complaints of the journalist Ille Ivanov and the editor of the newspaper Vzyatka Eruard Mochalov into one case and communicated them, the reports . SOVA Information and Analytical Center

Ivanov is contesting his 2013 conviction for the article “Show me your tongue and I’ll tell you who you are” in the Bribe newspaper. He was convicted under Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code - inciting hatred on the grounds of nationality, language and origin, committed with the use of the media. Then the court sentenced the journalist to 300 hours of compulsory work, but Ivanov was released from doing it due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Eduard Mochalov claimed to be the author of the article, while Ivanov only edited it. He challenged the decision to recognize the text as extremist. The editor also complained about the unjustified wiretapping of his telephone conversations, allegedly on suspicion of organizing the activities of an extremist community.

The ECtHR asked the Russian authorities a number of questions in connection with these complaints. Was the prohibition of the article a violation of the right of the author or co-authors of the article to freedom of expression (Article 10 of the European Convention)? Was this ban necessary in a democratic society, given the situation in the region, in particular with the linguistic rights of national minorities? Could the publication of the article lead to violence or other dangerous consequences? Was a linguistic examination carried out?

In addition, the court asked whether Ivanov's authorship was established? Did not his persecution under article 282 of the Criminal Code and wiretapping of his telephone conversations violate article 10 of the Convention, given his political views and journalistic activities?

In connection with Mochalov's complaint, the court also asked the Russian authorities a question. Were there good enough grounds to suspect him of organizing an extremist community? According to investigators, it promotes pan-Turkism, separatism and national superiority in connection with the activities of the Assembly of the peoples of the Volga and the Urals. On this basis, the telephone conversations of Mochalov and Ivanov were tapped.