Criminal case opened against human rights defender in Krasnodar

Human rights activist Anastasia Denisova is suspected of breaking author's rights, admitted, under the version of inspectors, through use of counterfeit software. A criminal case has been initiated against her; while Denisova herself believes that this is persecution connected with the activities of the NGO "ETnIKA", headed by her.

On January 11 the division for combating economic crime (the so-called "OBEP") conducted a search in the apartment where she lives. She was told that it was made under a special operation aimed to check the conformity of the registered and actually living persons and because of a terrorist threat. Militiamen acted on the basis of the decision of the court and confiscated her hard drive unit, flash memory stick and notebook computer.

The criminal case against Denisova was opened under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Violation of Copyright", which entails up to six years of imprisonment. She will be defended by the human rights association "Agora", as Radio Liberty reports. Anastasia is under recognizance not to leave, the "Interfax" adds.

Ms Denisova is the leader of the public organization named "ETnIKA" engaged in racial discrimination problems and takes part in the Russian-Georgian civil dialogue. She is also a member of the Coordination Board of the Youth Human Rights Movement, activist of the "GROZA" Movement and an employee of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".