Chechen journalist Zhalaudi Geriev treats ECtHR's decision in his case as half-hearted

Zhalaudi Geriev, a journalist from Chechnya, has noted that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) had found only one obvious violation in his case. If the ECtHR had considered the case before Russia in 2022 refused to enforce its decisions, the judges might have considered the materials in more detail, he has added.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 3, it became known that the ECtHR had regarded the treatment of Zhalaudi Geriev, a former "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, at the Shali Court to be degrading and awarded him compensation of EUR 7500.

Mr Geriev has noted that the ECtHR's decision did not satisfy him. "My complaint has not been thoroughly considered. No questions were asked to Russian authorities; and there are no conditions for this, since the respondent country has withdrawn from the European Convention," he has stated.

The ECtHR has found only one obvious violation – the defendant was kept in a prison cage during illegal court sessions, which themselves violated the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), Zhalaudi Geriev has added.

Perhaps this case and similar ones will be considered in detail by the ECtHR after the political regime in Russia changes and the country again begins to fully participate in the international organizations and structures. But for now, the people, who had been tortured by law enforcers in Russia, cannot punish the perpetrators, Mr Geriev believes, claiming that in Russia the court as an institution of independent justice does not exist, since there is no equality of parties' contest at trial.