Translated material
Those detained at opposition protests on March 26 filed complaints with the ECHR
Twelve participants in unsanctioned opposition rallies that took place on March 26 in Russia filed complaints with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). This was reported by the human rights center "Memorial", whose lawyers helped in the preparation of complaints.
The applicants complain about violations of articles 3 (prohibition of torture), 5 (right to liberty and security of person), 6 (right to a fair trial), 10 (freedom of expression) and 11 (freedom of assembly and association) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms.
All those who filed complaints with the ECtHR, except for one, were detained at a rally on March 26 in Moscow.
The applicants, in particular, point out that after their arrest they were kept in poor conditions, and during the examination by the court of the protocols on administrative violations drawn up against them, the police officers were not questioned.
“The court found all the applicants guilty, based in many cases only on police reports and affidavits, which is a violation of Article 6 of the Convention [for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms],” Memorial said in a statement.
Also, complaints to the ECHR on behalf of the three detainees about the rally on March 26 were filed by lawyers of the human rights project "Open Russia". In addition, the lawyers of the project sent appeals to the Human Rights Court from M-Tek employees who were responsible for the technical support of the broadcast of the action on the Navalny LIVE channel.
All of them were found guilty under part 1 of Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (“Disobedience to police officers”) and sent under administrative arrest.
In relation to those arrested, according to the lawyers of the human rights project "Open Russia", the fifth and sixth articles of the Convention on Human Rights, which guarantee the right to freedom, personal integrity and a fair trial, were violated. None of them, the lawyers point out, resisted the police.
The applicants' rights to freedom of expression and assembly (Articles 10 and 11 of the Convention) were arbitrarily restricted. The only reason for the arrest and administrative sanctions was the very fact of participation in an unauthorized action.
- On March 26, actions against corruption took place in Russia, announced after the release of the FBK film about the “secret empire” of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. In some cities, including Moscow, the actions were not approved by the authorities and were accompanied by mass arrests.
- A few days before the actions on March 26, Alexei Navalny promised that he would "make a complaint to the ECHR to everyone who is illegally prosecuted for participating in the rallies on March 26." According to him, it will be about compensation of 10,000 euros. After the actions on March 26, the FBK reported that more than 650 detainees in different cities of Russia turned to them.
- Also, after the rally on March 26, several criminal cases were initiated in Moscow on attacks on policemen, in which sentences were handed down to real terms of imprisonment.