ECtHR recognizes violation of Sochi judge Novikov’s rights

In Strasbourg, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) awarded the compensation of 9750 euros to former Sochi judge Dmitry Novikov, recognizing his long detention and the use of a metal cage in the courtroom as ungrounded.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on June 5, 2021, advocate Dmitry Novikov, a former judge of the Khosta District Court of Sochi, was detained in Moscow in a case on attempted mediation in the transfer of a bribe. During an interrogation, Dmitry Novikov claimed that after he had announced the cost of his legal services, his client had made a false denunciation. On May 22, the court sentenced Dmitry Novikov to 6.5 years of imprisonment. The harsh sentence against the former Sochi judge came as a surprise, noted advocate Natalia Goltseva.

Dmitry Novikov explained the verdict in his case by the fact that he exposed the criminal connections of judges, investigators, and public prosecutors.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) recognized the violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the prohibition of torture was violated, since the former judge was kept in a metal cage during the court hearings, and the violation of Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the right to liberty and security of person, as the former judge was subjected to the excessive period of detention.