Russia's SC postpones consideration of appeal on "EcoWatch" case until March 11

The Supreme Court (SC) of the Russian Federation has satisfied the petition lodged by Andrei Rudomakha, the head of "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus" (EcoWatch), asking to postpone the commencement of the proceedings on liquidation of his organization.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April 2014 the Department of the Russia's Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for the Republic of Adygea suspended the work of the "EcoWatch"; and on November 21, the SC of Adygea decided to liquidate the "EcoWatch". On November 24, activists appealed against this decision, arguing that the court session passed without the presence of the lawyers of the "EcoWatch".

Today, the Russia's SC has begun considering the appeal of the "EcoWatch" against the above court decision. The interests of ecologists were represented by Andrei Rudomakha and the lawyer for the "Greenpeace" Olga Blatova.

According to Rudomakha, the Charter of the "EcoWatch" was amended at the extraordinary 13th conference, which was held on January 25, 2015. In particular, the Charter was complemented with a section, detailing the procedure for convening conferences and formation of the governing bodies of the organization, as it was demanded by the MoJ.

However, Rudomakha believes that the true reason for liquidation of the "EcoWatch" was in the active statutory activities of the organization.

Let us remind you that that in early December last year the participants of the Civil Forum EU-Russia spoke against liquidation of the "EcoWatch; and the Amnesty International also spoke in defence of the "EcoWatch" and Evgeny Vitishko, its convicted activist.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.