12:26, 12 June 2013

Ecologist Suren Gazaryan receives residence permit in Estonia

Suren Gazaryan, a member of the Russian Coordinating Council of Opposition and an activist of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus" from Krasnodar, has been granted a residence permit in Estonia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late August 2012 a criminal case was opened against Suren Gazaryan on suspicion of threatening to kill a guard of the "Putin's dacha" in the Krasnodar Territory.

On December 21, 2012, the ecologist said that he had left Russia, fearing a conviction; and on December 27 it became known about his appeal to Estonian authorities for political asylum.

On June 11, Suren Gazaryan received a notice from the Department of Police and Border Guard of Estonia that he had been granted a residence permit in the country for three years as a person in need of international protection.

He wrote about the Estonian authorities' decision in his Twitter. "Exactly six months have passed since the day I arrived in Estonia, and more than 7 months after I left Russia. I can now work and travel," wrote Suren Gazaryan.

He is one of the 10 winners of the contest "Hero of the Caucasus-2012" held by the "Caucasian Knot".