ECtHR finds violation of Sochi resident's rights in refusal to issue passport for travels abroad

Russian authorities have violated the right to freedom of movement of a Sochi resident Mikhail Benyash, who was denied a passport for travelling abroad, when serving his conditional prison term. This was decided by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which has obliged Russian authorities to pay 5000 euros to Benyash.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 1, 2010, Mikhail Benyash, an advocate of Judge Dmitri Novikov, was detained and arrested on charges of extorting 25,000 US dollars from entrepreneur Konstantin Apostolov. Benyash himself had stated that his case was fabricated as revenge for his involvement in Novikov's case.

The applicant stated in the complaint to the ECtHR that he was denied a passport for travels abroad in Russia while serving his conditional term on the grounds that he was a "criminal, who was not rehabilitated yet."

The ECtHR has ruled that a person may be deprived of the freedom of movement only if his actions endanger the national security or public safety. Besides, the ban should be considered individually, not automatically.

After the entry into force of the ECtHR's decision, the Russians serving their conditional terms will have the legal basis for receiving passports for travelling abroad, said Benyash.

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