ECtHR awards compensation to Nagavkin for violation of his right to freedom

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found the arrest and long custody in Volgograd of the activist, Igor Nagavkin, to be illegal. Russian authorities should pay him a compensation of 2700 euros.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in October 2016, Igor Nagavkin, an expert of the all-Russian movement "For Human Rights" in the Southern Federal District (SFD), was arrested on suspicion of trying to steal jewellery from a pawnshop. He refused to plead guilty. In November 2018, he was released, returned to his native Kalach-on-Don town, and again took up his human rights work. However, the criminal case has not been closed.

On June 10, the ECtHR ruled in favour of Igor Nagavkin, finding a violation of his right to freedom and inviolability. Now, Russian authorities must pay him 2700 euros in compensation. The decision was posted on the ECtHR's website on the same day, on June 10.

The compensation was awarded for the illegal arrest and long-term custody, Igor Nagavkin himself told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "Russia failed to justify my arrest and custody, for which I was awarded the compensation," Mr Nagavkin has explained. According to his story, he was held in SIZO (pre-trial prison) for two years, one month and 20 days.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 11, 2021 at 06:25 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.