the European court of human rights one after the other there are complaints of defendants in the “case of mass riots”, which, according to the Russian law enforcement authorities, place last summer in Moscow. Another statement sent to the days in Strasbourg, belongs, perhaps, the most famous participant of these events — the student of the Higher school of Economics Yegor Zhukov.
Formally, recall, Zhukov not convicted for participation in street protests, and for “public calls to extremist activity committed with the use of the Internet” (article 280, part 2 of the criminal code). However, under the scope of law enforcement got after visited July 27 in an inconsistent rally in support of the unregistered candidates for deputies of the Moscow city Duma.
Initially, the student was accused of organizing mass riots. This version was not confirmed. The student even softened the measure of restraint from detention center to house arrest. However, the “load” to the indulgences given a new article.
“No later than… 11.10.2017 Zhukov, E. S., with a sense of political hatred and enmity against the existing constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the government and its representatives as well as acting on the motive of ideological denial and personal dislike for him… decided to attract the public to its extremist activities, aimed at destabilizing the social-political situation in the Russian Federation” — reads the decree signed by the investigator of the TFR. The accused student has put a few videos with his statements, posted them on YouTube.
According to the results of the examination spent by experts of Institute of criminalistics of the special equipment of the FSB, the main crime Zhukov is in the phrase: “Need to cling to any form of protest.” “Forms of protest are divided into violent and non-violent, — judged by experts. — The call to “take up any form of protest” includes extreme and violent forms of protest as one of the possible forms of protest”.
Zhukov and his defense strongly objected to this interpretation. In the same incriminated rollers stressed that “the only way to change power in Russia is a peaceful, non-violent civil resistance”. Iron, it would seem that the argument. But neither the investigators nor judges for some reason he did not act.
In December, the kuntsevskiy district court of Moscow sentenced the student Zhukov to three years probation. In addition, within two years the student will not “administer the Internet resources”. On 13 February, the Moscow city court confirmed the legality and validity of this verdict.
In the ECHR proved that the prosecution suffered by beetles, and the subsequent court decision was politically Motivi��ownymi. Undertaken in relation to the actions of the authorities, the Complainant and his protection — human rights group “Agora” — see the violation of three articles of the European Convention on human rights: the sixth (“the Right to a fair trial”), tenth (“Freedom of expression”) and the eighteenth (“the limitation on use of restrictions on rights”).
To Yegor Zhukov to the ECHR had to complain at least seven of the defendants in “the case of the riots” and persons affected by the actions of law enforcement. And it is definitely only the beginning. The list of persons subject to criminal prosecution under “the case of the riots” includes several dozen names. Account beaten and/or detained in the thousands. And that the ECHR will meet the applicants at least their absolute majority, — no doubt almost none. As evidenced by the previous practice of the Strasbourg court.
So don’t be too bold to assume that the approximate rigidity is shown by the authorities in suppressing the protests of the summer, will cost a very tidy sum. In the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of euros. For reference: payment Alexei Navalny last won in Strasbourg case — the court considered that the content of an opposition politician under house arrest during consideration of the case “Yves Rocher” was excessive and politically motivated measure — amounted to 20 thousand euros. Plus 2.6 thousand — compensation of litigation costs.
unfortunately, rap in all such cases have the Treasury, the faceless and the dimensionless state house. It is, however, it seems more fair if those who made the investigative and judicial mistakes, paid for them out of his own pocket. You see, our justice itself would then become an impartial and merciful.
