The ECHR communicated the complaint of the artist Loskutov about the ban on the placement of Pussy Riot icons

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) communicated the statement of the Novosibirsk actionist and artist, organizer of the annual "Monsters" Artem Loskutov. The artist was fined one thousand rubles for posting posters with stylized Pussy Riot icons . This was reported to OVD-Info by the lawyer of the International Human Rights Group Agora Damir Gaynutdinov.

Loskutov complained to the ECHR about the violation of his right to freedom of expression (Article 10 of the Convention). In March 2012, he hung icon-like posters on three billboards in the center of Novosibirsk that read "SVBD PSRT" (Free Pussy Riot ). Later, three protocols were drawn up against him for insulting the feelings of believers (part 2 of article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). Proceedings on one of them were terminated, on the other two, the court found Loskutov guilty and fined him one thousand rubles in total.

During the communication, the ECtHR posed a number of questions to the Russian government, to which it must provide answers by January 22, 2018:

“An extremely interesting and not quite usual case is emerging for the ECtHR,” says lawyer Gainutdinov. - Loskutov was fined only 1,000 rubles, and if the Court did not recognize the complaint as clearly inadmissible due to the insignificance of the consequences for the applicant, then he believes that the principle of respect for human rights requires consideration of the case on the merits. The questions that the ECtHR asked Russia deserve a separate assessment. For example, he asked for clarification on whether the courts took into account the connection with the Pussy Riot case and the wide range of socio-political issues raised by this case - the criminal prosecution of group members, the cooperation of a secular state with religion. Did they take into account that freedom of expression also extends to “ideas” that are shocking.”