ECtHR recognizes rights violation of activist from Georgievsk

Russian authorities have violated the rights of Mikhail Pidenko, who was fined for discrediting the Russian Army, to a fair trial, freedom of expression and appeal, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled, awarding him compensation of EUR 5000, although Russia has refused to enforce ECtHR's decisions.

The Georgievsk City Court has arrested Mikhail Pidenko for two days under the article of disobedience to the police. His friends link his prosecution with Mikhail's pacifist activities. After Pidenko had served his arrest, the police took him to the police station, where they demanded from him to sign a protocol under the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces due to his posts on the Instagram*. Under this article, the court fined him by 40,000 roubles.

The human rights project "OVD-Info"** has reported that the ECtHR noted that no proofs had been provided that the administrative protocol could not have been drawn up on the spot, without detaining the activist.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.

**Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.