The United Civil Front leader Garry Kasparov was detained before the March of the Discontented on April 14 and fined 1,000 rubles ($40) for "antigovernmental slogans”.
Photo: Ilya Pitalev
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Russian Opposition Seeks Justice in European Court
Russian opposition leader Garry Kasparov appealed to the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday to protest violations in the March of the Discontented in Moscow in April. Those beaten or illegally detained in other recent protest rallies say they will join the suit.
The United Civil Front leader Garry Kasparov was detained before the March of the Discontented on April 14 and fined 1,000 rubles ($40) for “shouting out antigovernmental slogans.”
Police broke up the rally before all demonstrators had gathered, beating and arresting dozens of people.
A lawyer for the former chess champion on Thursday filed a formal complaint with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Karina Moskalenko said the detention had violated Mr. Kasparov’s rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and access to a fair hearing. “We have exhausted all means of protection in this country, that’s why we are appealing to the European Court,” Ms. Moskalenko told Kommersant, adding that the complaint is open for other victims of violence to join.
Sergey Udaltsov, leader of the Red Youth Avant-garde opposition movement said he had been in talks with the United Civil Front and willing to join the suit. “We have no illusions about Russian justice – authorities are against us here,” he said. “But we will not tolerate this attitude to opposition forces.”
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 25, 2007
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