ECtHR's decision on Gugov's complaint disappoints rights defenders

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found the complaint lodged by Islam Gugov, a resident of Kabardino-Balkaria about his second sentence for the same crime to be unacceptable. The ECtHR's decision in Gugov's case could become a landmark for Russia, where the practice of repeated prosecution for the same crime is becoming increasingly common, said Oleg Orlov, a board member of the Human Rights Centre HRC) "Memorial"*.

In October 2018, the North-Caucasian District Military Court found Islam Gugov involved in militants and sentenced him to 16 years in prison. According to the prosecution, he had been trained in Syria in militant camps.

"Unfortunately, the practice of attracting the same person for the same crime twice – firstly, for participating in illegal armed formations (IAFs), and secondly, under 'terrorist' articles – is spreading more and more in Russia. And unexpectedly we see the ECtHR's decision – it states that found no signs of violation of rights and freedoms in this case," Oleg Orlov has noted.

In his opinion, "this important international judicial institution also professes double standards." "This is not for the first time that we have come across the fact that in cases where there is an aspect of international terrorism or Islamic fundamentalism, the ECtHR loses its objectivity and impartiality," Mr Orlov has concluded.