ECtHR awards compensations for detention of those who commemorated Estemirova

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has obliged Russian authorities to pay compensations for the detention of participants in the rallies and pickets, including the commemoration rally of Natalya Estemirova, who was killed in Northern Caucasus. The ECtHR's decision is important, despite Russia's refusal to fulfil ECtHR's decisions, Alexander Cherkasov, a human rights defender and one of the applicants, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 15, 2019, three picketers in memory of Estemirova were detained in Moscow, namely, Alexander Cherkasov, the board chairman of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"*; Svetlana Gannushkina**, the head of the "Civic Assistance" Committee**; and Elena Milashina, a journalist of the "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper. All of them were fined.

On February 9, the ECtHR awarded compensations to 59 Russian citizens, finding their detentions at protests as illegal, the "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Protection has stated. In particular, the ECtHR has found the authorities' interference with the right to the freedom of assembly as disproportionate, and the detentions of the applicants as unlawful.

The ECtHR's decision on the complaint is important because the earlier ECtHR's refusal to declare Russian authorities responsible for Estemirova's death was a "disgusting decision," Mr Cherkasov has stated.

Besides, the Red Square, where Cherkasov, Gannushkina and Milashina were detained, is next to the Kremlin, the presidential residence, he has added.

Alexander Cherkasov is sure that despite Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe, the ECtHR's decisions on complaints against Russia will accumulate.