Mikhailovsk resident files complaint with UN Human Rights Committee

In his complaint lodged with the UN Human Rights Committee Vitaly Fedorenko, a resident of Mikhailovsk, has claimed that six fines imposed on him under the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces for expressing personal opinions are unlawful and violate human rights.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that Vitaly Fedorenko was fined 180,000 roubles for his posts on social networks, which a court recognized as discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. The resident of Mikhailovsk filed an appeal against those six court’s decisions, but the court of appeal upheld the fines.

In his complaint, Vitaly Fedorenko noted that the court brough him to responsibility for another post, not for the one specified in the protocol on the offense. At the same time, the man insisted on his right to have a personal opinion and noted that there was no offense in his actions.

Vitaly Fedorenko emphasized that he did not want to discredit anyone, but simply expressed his opinion on an important public topic.

“The actions of the Russian authorities violated the rights provided for by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly, the prohibition of war propaganda, and the prohibition of discrimination,” Vitaly Fedorenko states in his complaint.

As Vitaly Fedorenko himself says, a ban on personal opinion is a violation of human rights, which is why he has filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee. The resident of Mikhailovsk believes that the decisions of the courts in Russia in his cases were not based on the law.