20.03.2008 - Source: Prima News

Continued illegal detentions of solo picketers protesting in support of Maxim Reznik ("Continued illegal detentions of solo picketers protesting in support of Maxim Reznik") [ID 22883]

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Law provides for freedom of assembly, but local authorities increasingly restricted this right in practice; police used excessive force in violently suppressing demonstrations by political opposition ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22616]

For information on cases, please see the report.

"The law provides for freedom of assembly, but local authorities increasingly restricted this right in practice. (…) On May 27, participants in a Moscow gay rights demonstration were assaulted by counter-demonstrators. Security forces did little to protect the demonstrators and arrested approximately 25 gay rights activists.

Police used excessive force in violently suppressing the demonstrations by political opposition. There were cases of unlawful detentions and harassment, of human rights activists and participants in a number of Marches of Dissenters sponsored throughout the year by the opposition movement Other Russia. For example, on April 14-15, militia detained over 300 participants in Marches of Dissenters in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In Moscow some participants were fined for administrative code violations, and some demonstrators and one journalist were beaten. In St. Petersburg police used excessive force to suppress the protest, beating, and injuring protesters, including former legislative assembly deputy Sergey Gulyayev. (…)"

Document(s): Open document

31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

In 2007 authorities beat, detained, and harassed activists participating in peaceful political protests; series of demonstrations were banned or severely restricted ("World Report 2008") [ID 22377]

"In 2007 Russian authorities beat, detained, and harassed activists participating in and planning peaceful political protests. Authorities banned or severely restricted a series of opposition demonstrations known as “Dissenters’ Marches,” which were nonetheless held across Russia. In April riot police and special forces used excessive force to break up a Moscow Dissenters’ March, beating numerous demonstrators and detaining hundreds. Authorities prevented activists and observers from traveling to Samara to participate in a May Dissenters’ March, which coincided with the EU-Russia summit held there. (...)

Also in November, riot police used excessive force to disperse Dissenters’ Marches in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and made arrests. Among those detained were several march organizers and prominent opposition candidates including Garry Kasparov, leader of the Other Russia coalition, who subsequently received a five-day prison sentence."

Document(s): Open document

26.11.2007 - Source: Guardian

St. Petersburg: Protest over Kremlin's lurch toward authoritarianism under Putin was forcibly broken up; about 200 demonstrators detained and some beaten ("Anti-Putin protesters arrested") [ID 21716]

Document(s): Open document

24.11.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Nazran: Several hundred people protested against unexplained kidnappings, police violence, and poor economic conditions; police used force to break up protest ("Police Break Up Ingushetia Protest") [ID 21717]

Document(s): Open document

24.11.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Moscow: Police breaks up anti-government demonstration, detains several protesters, including Garry Kasparov and other opposition activists ("Police Disperse Opposition Rally") [ID 21718]

Document(s): Open document

15.04.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Hundreds of protesters detained riot police and special forces used excessive force to break up peaceful demonstration in Moscow on April 14, beating numerous demonstrators and detaining hundreds ("Police Break Up Peaceful Demonstration") [ID 19440]

"Hundreds of riot police blocked all access to Pushkin Square on April 14, keeping small groups of demonstrators, press, and observers on the sidewalks. Police trucks and buses lined both sides of the street abutting the square. Police detained numerous demonstrators as they attempted to reach the meeting site and loaded them into buses to take them to police stations. According to several reports received by Human Rights Watch, some groups of demonstrators were detained by police in their home cities as they attempted to travel to Moscow on the eve of the event to prevent them from participating. According to official sources, the authorities deployed 9,000 riot police and special forces to control the march and several other small political meetings.

Observers from Human Rights Watch witnessed riot police charge a small group of protestors as they chanted “Russia without Putin!” and “Freedom!” and beat several of them, including an elderly man, with truncheons. The demonstrators did not offer any resistance or use any violence. (...)

The Dissenters’ March is the third such event in recent months to be suppressed or violently dispersed by the police. Other marches were held in St. Petersburg and Nizhni Novgorod. A march planned in St. Petersburg on April 15, 2007 has also been banned by the authorities. Participants in the Dissenters’ Marches include the “Other Russia” coalition, the recently banned National Bolshevik party. "

Document(s): Open document

06.04.2007 - Source: Guardian

New law restricts the number of people allowed to take part in political rallies to 2 a square metre; according to opposition parties the law is designed to prevent anti-Putin meetings before elections ("Opposition hit by curbs on Moscow rallies") [ID 19441]

Document(s): Open document

27.03.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Hundreds of violations of law on public meetings and demonstrations reported; most violations were result of conduct of local officials and police officers; participants in civil society meetings were vulnerable to harassment ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2007 (Events of 2006)") [ID 19375]

"Hundreds of violations of the 2004 law on public meetings and demonstrations were reported. The law was either directly disregarded by different authorities or interpreted in such a way so as to restrict the right to freedom of assembly and other fundamental rights protected by the Russian constitution and international treaties to which Russia is a party. Most violations were a result of the conduct of local officials and police officers, while a relatively small number of violations were perpetrated by high-ranking officials, such as heads of the Russian regions. However, the latter cases had a more serious impact as they established an example for lowerranking officials. Participants in civil society meetings were vulnerable to harassment. * In connection with the Second All-Russian Social Forum and “The Other Russia” Conference, which took place in the summer of 2006, numerous participants were followed by special services and were subjected to different forms of harassment. There were also reports of the use of excessive force by police against participants in peaceful assemblies. * On 25 April, law enforcement authorities used gas against the participants in a peaceful demonstration in the Dokuzparinsk district of Dagestan, killing one person and injuring two. Several dozen other participants were beaten up. * On September 3, police and the spezial police force OMON GUVD violently dispersed a legal picket held in Moscow to commemorate the victims of the Beslan tragedy, on the Day of Solidarity with Victims of Terrorism."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

While police often granted demonstration permits, local elected and administrative officials at times denied some groups permission to assemble; in several instances authorities denied religious groups access to venues where they could hold assemblies ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20128]

For further information on cases where demonstrations were broken up or prohibited, please see the report

"The law provides for freedom of assembly and the government generally respected this right in practice; however, at times authorities restricted this right.

Organizations are required to obtain permits to hold public meetings. They must apply for these permits between five and 10 days before the scheduled event, which were generally granted to both supporters and opponents of the government. While police often granted demonstration permits, local elected and administrative officials at times denied some groups permission to assemble. Religious gatherings and assemblies do not require permits, but in several instances authorities denied religious groups access to venues where they could hold assemblies (see section 2.c.).

During the G-8 Summit in St. Petersburg in July, human rights activists claimed 577 alleged incidents of illegal action by law enforcement officials against protestors, including 94 cases of police taking person to police stations without explanation; 267 cases (three involving children) of temporary detention on trumped‑up charges such as "minor hooliganism," "verbal abuse," and "resistance to law enforcement officials"; and 216 cases of persons prevented from traveling by bus or train to St. Petersburg for a "counter summit" organized by Russian NGOs.

According to Human Rights Watch, in the days before the Other Russia conference in Moscow in July, authorities tried to bar conference attendees from leaving their home cities. Tactics reportedly included summoning attendees to police departments, coercing from them written promises to stay at home, and threatening them with detention on administrative charges. In some cases police removed individuals from trains and airplanes as they were about to depart to Moscow. Some participants were reportedly attacked and beaten by unknown assailants just before the conference.

On May 27, police intervened belatedly to protect participants in a lesbian and gay rights festival in Moscow from attack by antigay protesters (see section 5). After organizing a picket in Moscow on September 3 in commemoration of the victims of Beslan, Lev Ponomarev was arrested and detained for three days. Media reports indicate that Ponomarev, leader of the Russian organization "For Human Rights," submitted the required notification prior to the event, but chose not to observe the subsequent recommendation that it take place elsewhere or on a different date. Human rights organizations assert that such responses from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are not binding under the law, and that his detention was both arbitrary and illegal."

Document(s): Open document

03.03.2007 - Source: BBC News

St. Petersburg: Riot police break up a rare rally by opponents to President Vladimir Putin ("Russian anti-Putin demo broken up") [ID 18866]

Document(s): Open document

26.01.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Draft legislation provides for further restrictions on freedom of assembly and strengthens already restrictive provisions of 2004 law on demonstrations ("Further restrictive amendments on freedom of assembly proposed to the Duma") [ID 18587]

"A draft law has been submitted to the Duma, entitled “Amendments to some Federal Laws on demonstrations, protests, marches and meetings”, on January 17, 2007.This draft legislation provides for further restrictions on freedom of assembly and strengthens the already restrictive provisions of the 2004 Law on demonstrations.

 Indeed, article 5 of the bill provides that all persons with criminal or administrative convictions under the Law on the Fight Against Extremist Activities are banned from organising demonstrations. This provision is particularly worrying as this law has already been used to criminalise human rights activities and to sentence human rights defenders. For example, Mr. Stanislav Dmitrievski, Executive Director of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS), was convicted and sentenced to two-years of suspended imprisonment in February 2006 for “incitation to national hatred” in connection with his involvement in human rights.

Furthermore, under the proposed law, any person, non-governmental organisation, political party or religious organisation that has received a warning from the authorities under the above-mentioned law is banned from organising any demonstration for a period of six months.  Article 8 of the draft law increases the list of the places in which demonstrations are banned, in particular near to military camps or institutions. Finally, article 12 of the bill would provides for the authorities to be able to ban any public demonstration during the period of two weeks either side of elections."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Dagestan: Large parts of population are displeased with widespread corruption in their republic; growing number of demonstrations, which are regularly violently dispanded by security forces; growing tendency of violent protests before parliamentary elections in March 2007 ("Nordkaukasus; Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien sowie in Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarien, Inguschetien und Nordossetien") [ID 18700]

"Grosse Teile der Bevölkerung Dagestans sind nicht nur verängstigt, sondern auch verärgert über die weit verbreitete Korruption in ihrer Republik und machen ihrem Zorn immer öfter in Demonstrationen Luft, die von den Sicherheitskräften nicht selten mit Gewalt beendet werden. Die DemonstrantInnen protestieren konkret gegen die undurchsichtige, illegale und unfaire Umverteilung des Bodens in den vergangenen Jahren sowie gegen die Unterschlagung von Steuergeldern. Der im Februar 2006 eingesetzte Präsident und ehemalige Sowjetbeamte Muchu Aliev hat zwar einen ehrenhaften Ruf, aber wenig Handhabe gegen die korrupten Beamten. In naher Zukunft werden die gewaltsamen Proteste tendenziell weiter zunehmen, stehen doch im März 2007 in Dagestan Parlamentswahlen an."

Document(s): Open document

15.12.2006 - Source: BBC News

Moscow: About 2,000 people joined protests against leadership's increasing authoritarianism; protesters were kept confined behind barriers and surrounded by helmeted riot police ("Anti-Putin protest 'to go ahead'") [ID 17965]

Document(s): Open document

04.11.2006 - Source: BBC News

Moscow police prepare to crack down on ultra-nationalists who want to defy a march ban on 4 November ("Moscow to thwart 'Russian march'") [ID 17502]

Document(s): Open document

17.10.2006 - Source: Prima News

Two activists of "Defense" organization detained at demonstration on October 15 against anti-Georgian campaign in Russia and will be transmitted to court ("Two activists of the "Defense" organization detained") [ID 17521]

Document(s): Open document

17.10.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Nazran: Picket in commemoration of Anna Politkovskaya violently dispersed by authorities; 5 human rights defenders arrested ("IHF Open Letter to Ingush President Murat Zyazikov Regarding Yesterday's Violent Dispersal of Planned Picket in Commemoration of Anna Politkovskaya in Nazran") [ID 17522]

Document(s): Open document

16.07.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

30 protesters against G8 summit arrested in St. Petersburg ("Russian Police Arrest 30 Protesters In St. Petersburg") [ID 15390]

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Government generally respected freedom of assembly; at times authorities restricted this right ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11292]

"The law provides for freedom of assembly and the government generally respected this right in practice; however, at times authorities restricted this right.

Organizations are required to obtain permits in order to hold public meetings. They must apply for these permits between 5 and 10 days before the scheduled event. Such permits were generally granted to both supporters and opponents of the government. For example early in the year groups that were opposed to a large-scale government program of welfare reforms demonstrated nationwide against the measures. Opponents of the reform also held some rallies without permits, and the authorities reportedly did not interfere. While the police often granted demonstration permits to both opponents and supporters of the government, local elected and administrative officials at times denied some groups permission to assemble. Religious gatherings and assemblies do not require permits, but in several instances the authorities denied religious groups access to venues where they could hold assemblies (see section 2.c.).

On May 30, Moscow police, after breaking up a demonstration in front of city hall, detained 10 congregants and supporters of the Emmanuel Pentecostal Church. Members and supporters of the church continued to demonstrate, alleging discrimination by authorities who had refused the church permission to construct a church and renovate buildings in Moscow and another district. In June several of these demonstrators were arrested during a demonstration. City authorities contended that the demonstrations were illegal and that they had advised the demonstrators to hold their protests at an alternative site. Protesters said that the demonstration was legal and that they had never received such instructions from city authorities. Several protesters were charged with holding an illegal demonstration and sentenced to five-day jail terms.

In September Moscow officials denied the request of the youth organization "We" to hold a protest. The youth organization's leader alleged that the request was denied because the organization had called for President Putin's resignation.

Some controversial political gatherings resulted in violence. On August 12, a group of young men reportedly attacked protesters rallying in support of Mikhail Khodorkovskiy. Also in August, individuals allegedly armed with clubs attacked a gathering of left-wing youth organizations in Moscow. Police reportedly confirmed that at least three persons were injured in the attack."

Document(s): Open document

07.03.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

In total 125,000 demonstrators protestet against increase of daily life expenses; different protest movements are increasing coordination regarding their claims for political change ("Russia: Protest Movements Are Coordinating And Stepping Up Efforts") [#45902], [ID 11293]

Document(s): Open document

02.02.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

15 human rights activists detained for staging unsactioned protest in Moscow against Federal Security Service ("Russian Activists Detained At Protest Rally") [#43368], [ID 11294]

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

The right to peaceful public demonstration considerably restricted under the Federal Law "On Discussions, Meetings, Demonstrations, Processions, and Pickets" ("Honouring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation [Doc. 10568]") [#32710], [ID 11295]

"408. On 19 June 2004, the Federal Law "On Discussions, Meetings, Demonstrations, Processions, and Pickets" was adopted. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders expressed its concern about this law that "severely restricts the rights of civil society to peaceful public demonstration". "The law creates significant obstacles to the planning and execution of peaceful, legal demonstrations. Requirements for receiving authorisation for a demonstration now include, inter alia, that local authorities must be notified about the event ten days in advance, including the provision of an hour-by-hour program of the event, and that the organisers must demonstrate that they will be responsible for general security concerning the event.

409. Additionally, there are considerable restrictions on permissible time and place for demonstrations. No public gatherings may be held after 11:00 pm, thereby banning all long-term demonstrations. A number of places are listed in which events are not allowed, including "close to the president's residence, court rooms, and prisons." In fact, local officials have the legal authority to decide and/or change the location of the demonstration, giving the co-ordinators as little as three days notice. Though considerably revised from its original form, having removed the ban on any demonstration of which the "aim and form would go against commonly accepted moral norms," the current law still significantly impedes the right to peaceful assembly."

410. We are also concerned by the numerous reports about impediments to the right of religious organisations to freely hold peaceful meetings and associate into public organisations (see respective section of this report)."

Document(s): Open document

19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Participants in peaceful assemblies subjected to the excessive use of force ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2005 (Events 2004)") [#32117], [ID 11296]

"On 19 June, a new Federal Law on Rallies, Assemblies, Demonstrations and Pickets entered into force. Human rights activists objected to a provision of this law, according to which the procedure for submitting notification of assemblies is to be regulated by regional legislation. They feared that this may result in regional authorities imposing additional conditions with which it may be difficult to comply, as had been the case with some other laws. In addition, it was not clear how the right to peaceful assembly will be regulated in those region of the Federation where no relevant legislation is passed.

During the final consideration of the law, a ban on organizing mass events near buildings of federal executive and legislative bodies, bodies of local self-government, as well as embassies of foreign states was abolished. However, a ban on organizing assemblies in front of the residence of the Russian president, courts and pre-trial detention facilities, near hazardous production facilities and within border zones was retained. Once the federal law had been enacted, authorities of some regions adopted legislation that significantly complicates the organization of assemblies.
• A document approved in August by the governor in the Belgorod region states that, depending on the significance of an assembly and the number of participants, those organizing the event must notify the authorities 15 to 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the event. They must also submit information about organizational, financial, and other conditions relevant to the organization of the event.

During the year, there were a number of cases where participants in peaceful assemblies were subjected to the excessive use of force by law enforcement authorities. Such cases were reported from different parts of the country. A particularly serious case took place in Elista, the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia.
• On 21 September, an authorized mass rally against the president of Kalmykia was held on the central square of Elista. The rally was initiated by a so-called Extraordinary Congress of the People of Kalmykia, which is composed of representatives of the political opposition. In the evening, when the event was already practically over, law enforcement officers began to forcefully disperse participants. According to eyewitness accounts, this was done in a brutal fashion. Special police troops beat unarmed rally participants with clubs, shot them with rubber bullets and threw light-and-noise grenades at them. They also trampled with boots participants who fell on the ground, including elderly people and women. The police operation spread to other parts of the city, as troops began chasing participants around, and left the city in a state of chaos until two o’clock at night. The central square of Elista was blocked by the police for several days after the rally, and attempts by rally participants to continue their protests in other parts of the city were suppressed by OMON. The organizers of the rally subsequently submitted a petition to the Russian State Duma and the prosecutor general, which stated that some 400 people were physically abused during the event, as a result of which at least three people died and five contracted life-threatening injuries. A total of 126 people were arrested. The petition also noted that the bodies of two of those declared dead had not been handed over to the relatives and that no information about people still missing was available. According to the public prosecutor of Kalmykia, Sergey Khlopushin, the measures undertaken by police and OMON officers were “legitimate and within the confines of the law.” At the end of 2004, a criminal investigation against Valery Badmayev, one of the leaders of the Extraordinary Congress of the People of Kalmykia, was pending."

Document(s): Open document

07.06.2004 - Source: Prima News

Moscow’s Taganskiy District Court deemed unlawful the actions of deputy Prefect of Central Administrative District who refused to consider the application to hold a rally to commemorate the 60th anniversary of deportation of Chechens and Ingushs by Stalin ("Court rules in favour of human rights activists") [#23115], [ID 11297]

Document(s): Open document

04.06.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Lower house of parliament today gave final approval to a modified bill restricting public rallies ("Russia's Duma Passes Bill Restricting Rallies") [#23050], [ID 11298]

Document(s): Open document

31.05.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Revised version of public-rally allows demonstrations at more legitimate protest sites; opposition critizes that demonstrators will be forced to seek permission for their protests from the authorities ("Duma Approves More Liberal Version Of Public-Rally Bill") [#22925], [ID 11299]

"Russia's State Duma, in the second of three readings, has approved President Vladimir Putin's amended version of a bill on public rallies. Putin's version is more liberal than the original bill -- which would have given the authorities power to prevent practically all demonstrations on grounds of public safety. But opposition deputies still decry the measure as an unnecessary restriction on free speech.
[...]
Originally, the bill would have banned Russians from holding protest pickets or rallies on or near property belonging to the presidential administration, as well as all federal, regional, or local government buildings. In addition, demonstrators would have been blocked from assembling on public-access roads or highways and bridges as well as near schools, oil installations, or foreign embassies and international organizations.

Critics, who were joined by Putin, said the legislation would essentially have allowed the authorities to block any protest they wished -- effectively muzzling people's right to free speech.
The revised version -- as approved on 28 May -- will ban protests on or around presidential administration buildings as well as courts and jails. But government buildings, university campuses, hospitals, and foreign embassies are back as legitimate protest sites.
[...]
But opposition party legislators -- including the Communists, the nationalist Motherland faction and the ultranationalist Liberal Democrats -- all voted against the revised bill, calling it a major infringement of rights. The main issue for them is that the bill -- in both its old and new versions -- will force demonstrators to seek permission for their protests from the authorities. Currently, demonstrators are only obliged to give notice of their plans -- without seeking prior approval."

Document(s): Open document

10.04.2004 - Source: Prima News

Moskow's mayor refuses to permit Yabloko demonstration againt police state ("Yabloko to Hold Demonstration in Spite of Ban") [#21339], [ID 11300]

"Moscow’s mayor has refused the [political] party Yabloko and a number of public organisations permission to conduct a “Civil Society Against the Police State” march on 1 May in the capital.
[...]
The reason for the authorities’ refusal is an incorrectly submitted notification that did not indicate the time of the demonstration and the number of participants. Press secretary of the Yabloko Moscow branch, Sergei Kazakov, told PRIMA News that the demonstration will take place in any case, even if the Moscow authorities oppose it."

Document(s): Open document

05.04.2004 - Source: Prima News

Yabloko calls for nationwide action against law cutting down on the right to demostration ("Yabloko calls to all-Russian strike") [#21055], [ID 11301]

"31 March State Duma passed in the first hearing the bill "On meetings, rallies, demonstrations and picketing" directed against the citizens’ right stated in Article 31 of the Russian Constitution. On the grounds of this law the authorities can refuse permission to hold any public event.
[...]
The protest is being planned in common with a number of human rights and environmental organisations."

Document(s): Open document

02.04.2004 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Duma passes bill that would outlaw public protest outside government buildings ("IHF Condemns Draft Law on Demonstrations, Calls for its Withdrawal") [#21018], [ID 11302]

"The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) condemned a bill passed on 31 March by the Russian Duma that would outlaw public protest outside government buildings. According to reports, the draft law, which will need to be approved on two further occasions before formally becoming law, aims to prohibit public gatherings outside government buildings, embassies and the offices of international organizations.
[...]
International treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights to which Russia is a state party, as well as the Russian Constitution guarantee freedom of assembly. Permissible restrictions under international law must be no more than is "necessary in a democratic society". The IHF considers that the blanket restrictions proposed by the draft law clearly violate this principle.

The IHF considers that although on occasion there may be legitimate grounds of public order or security to prevent a demonstration from taking place in a specific location, these grounds should be determined on a case-by-case basis with due regard to Russia's positive duties and obligations under international law to protect freedom of assembly rights."

Document(s): Open document

05.03.2004 - Source: Prima News

Former political prisoner Mikhail Koukobaka, who was arrested during the demonstration to mark 60th anniversary of the genocide of the Chechen people, sentenced to a fine for "breaching the established procedure of holding political meetings" ("Former Soviet political prisoner sentenced again") [#20036], [ID 11303]

"Nikolai Khramov, the organiser of the meeting and Secretary of Russian Radicals movement, and Elena Sannikova, human rights activist and former political prisoner who also had taken part in the banned demonstration, were examined by the Court as witnesses. After the speech by lawyer Karina Moskalenko who insisted on Mr. Koukobaka’s innocence, stating that he was exercising his right to freedom of political meetings and gatherings guaranteed by Article 31 of the Russian Constitution and Article 11 of the European Convention, Judge Stanislav Safonov withdrew to the conference room to make a decision. After five hours spent in the conference room, the Judge ruled to find Mikhail Koukobaka guilty of breaching Article 20.2 of the Russian Administrative Offence Code and impose a penalty of fine.

The sentence is to be appealed in Moscow City Court, and then possibly in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg."

Document(s): Open document

25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

At times local Governments restricted right for freedom of assembly ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19737], [ID 11304]

"The Constitution provides for freedom of assembly and the Government generally respected this right in practice; however, at times local Governments restricted this right.

Organizations were required to obtain permits in order to hold public meetings, and the application process had to be initiated between 5 and 10 days before the scheduled event. Although religious gatherings and assemblies did not require permits, in at least one case the Jehovah's Witnesses organization in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was fined for meeting without a permit. While the Ministry of Justice readily granted permits to demonstrate to both opponents and supporters of the government, some groups were either denied permission to assemble or had their permission withdrawn by local officials after Ministry of Justice officials had issued them.

On April 15, police beat participants from an ultra-nationalist organization who were engaged in an unsanctioned demonstration to protest the celebration of St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary. Three of the protesters were beaten so seriously that they had to be hospitalized (see Section 1.c.).

The Constitution provides for freedom of association, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. Public organizations must register their bylaws and the names of their leaders with the Ministry of Justice.

By law, political parties must have 10,000 members in order to be registered and function legally, with no less than 100 members in a majority of the country's 89 regions (see Section 3).

In February, the authorities banned the Islamist party Hizb ut-Tahrir for having terrorist connections and seeking to overthrow the Government. In April, the authorities launched a crackdown on the party, rounding up 55 leaders and members of the group in the capital by year's end. Party members denied the charges against the organization and called the raids an example of persecution. The FSB announced that the raid had resulted in the discovery of extensive munitions."

Document(s): Open document

23.02.2004 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Moscow: peaceful demonstrators detained at a meeting to oppose the ongoing armed conflict in Chechnya and to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the mass deportation of the Chechen people from Chechnya to Kazakhstan ("Peaceful Demonstrators in Moscow Detained: IHF Condemns Break-up of Meeting to Oppose Ongoing Armed Conflict in Chechnya") [#19605], [ID 11305]

Document(s): Open document

19.02.2004 - Source: Prima News

Moscow Mayor’s Office banned a political meeting on 23 February to mark the 60th anniversary of mass deportation of the Chechen people by Stalin ("Moscow authorities ban peaceful political meeting") [#19436], [ID 11306]

Document(s): Open document