The ECHR ordered Russia to pay more than 12 thousand euros to an activist who spat at the portrait of the president

The European Court of Human Rights has awarded 12,400 euros to activist Dmitry Karuev, who in 2012 spat on a portrait of Vladimir Putin. This was reported on the website of the court.

The ECHR recognized that the Russian authorities violated Karuev's right to freedom of expression (Article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms). On May 6, 2012, the activist was detained in Cheboksary after a rally near the public reception of United Russia. According to the testimony of police officers, Karuev approached the portrait of Putin, took it in his hands and "defiantly spat."

A protocol was drawn up against the activist under the article on petty hooliganism (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses), and at the end of May he was found guilty. The court considered that Karuev's actions "demonstrated blatant disrespect for society, whose citizens <...> elected the head of their state", and arrested him for 15 days.

The ECHR ruled that Russia should pay the activist 10,000 euros in compensation for non-pecuniary damage and 2,400 euros in compensation for legal costs.