20.03.2008 - Source: Prima News

Political repression against collectors of signatures in support of Kasyanov ("Political repression against collectors of signatures in support of Kasyanov") [ID 22884]

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Activist in National Bolshevik Party, who had participated in oppositional demonstrations, died after attack ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22505]

"There were no confirmed reports that the government or its agents committed politically motivated killings; however, numerous disappearances in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus, with the presumption of death, raised concern that federal and local forces continued to engage in unlawful killings as reported in previous years.

On November 22 in Serpuchov, Yuri Chervochkin, a 22-year-old activist in the National Bolshevik Party (NBP), was beaten into a coma by unknown attackers and died on December 10 without having regained consciousness. Chervochkin had participated in demonstrations (Marches of Dissenters) led by the Other Russia political opposition movement and had been arrested at least twice for political activities. He was reportedly warned by the authorities not to participate in a dissenters' march planned for November 24 in Moscow, and other NBP members claimed he was killed by government security forces."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Limited number of cases reported where psychiatry was used against those dissatisfied with authorities; in July human rights and opposition activist Larissa Arap was involuntarily confined to psychiatric hospital ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22580]

For further cases, please see the report.

"There were a limited number of cases reported where psychiatry was used against those dissatisfied with the authorities, according to the Russian Research Center for Human Rights. There was some indication that psychiatry was being used as a tool in the resolution of inheritance, business, and property disputes. The government's and courts' interpretation of the law resulted in a monopoly by government consultants in the provision of expert testimony in court cases. The exclusion of testimony by nongovernmental expert psychiatric witnesses left plaintiffs desiring a second opinion with no recourse, and has allegedly led to corruption and bribery. The human rights ombudsman's office has an experts' council that engaged in some cases to assist persons who were treated improperly by the courts.

In July human rights and opposition activist Larissa Arap was involuntarily confined to a psychiatric hospital in Apatity, reportedly in revenge for her published critical comments about the facility in an earlier confinement. She alleged that hospital staff abused her during her involuntary confinement. A team of independent psychiatric experts assembled by the human rights ombudsman examined Arap and advocated for her release in an August court hearing, testifying that psychiatric hospitalization was not necessary. The court deferred to the hospital's judgment, and the hospital released Arap 10 days after the court hearing. Arap's legal challenge of her hospitalization was rejected by the courts."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Human rights organizations and activists have identified various individuals as political prisoners ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22581]

For more detailed information on the cases, please see report.

"Human rights organizations and activists have identified various individuals as political prisoners: Zara Murtazaliyeva, Valentin Danilov, Igor Sutyagin, Mikhail Khodorkovskiy, Platon Lebedev, and Svetlana Bakhmina. All remained imprisoned at the end of the year. Mikhail Trepashkin, previously identified by some observers as a political prisoner, was released this year."

Document(s): Open document

31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

In 2007 police used excessive force to disperse opposition demonstrations and made arrests; opposition parliamentary candidate from Dagestan was shot dead in November ("World Report 2008") [ID 22378]

"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.

In late November Farid Babaev, a human rights activist and opposition parliamentary candidate from Dagestan, was shot dead by unidentified assailants."

Document(s): Open document

14.12.2007 - Source: Prima News

Mari El: Activist of "The Other Russia" was detained near his house by two unknown people and forcibly delivered to a psychiatric hospital on 23 November 2007 (""The Other Russia" activist subjected to forced psychiatric treatment in the Mari El Republic") [ID 22028]

Document(s): Open document

25.09.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Prominent political analyst Andrei Piontkovsky went on trial in Moscow on charges under antiextremism legislation; he is under criminal investigation for alleged extremist statements he wrote in book critical of Kremlin ("Prominent Russian Academic On Trial On Extremism Charges") [ID 21376]

Document(s): Open document

21.08.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Journalist and opposition activist Larisa Arap, who was forcibly hospitalized in psychiatric clinic and held for 46 days, is claiming that she was beaten, drugged, and an attempt on her life was made ("Russian Activist Says Clinic Staff Tried To Kill Her") [ID 21137]

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

Critics argue that new laws on combatting terrorism and extremism can be used to silence opposition politicians; foreign media reported number of cases in which opposition-minded activists who crossed authorities were taken to insane asylums ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20515]

"New laws on combatting terrorism and extremism further opened the door for abuses of civil liberties. A new counterterrorism law includes vague formulations that allow for the banning of any organization that justifies or supports terrorism. Amendments to the law on extremism expand the definition of extremist activities to include slandering a government official in the performance of his duties. Likewise, a new law bars parties from contesting elections if one member is convicted of extremism. Critics of these measures argue that existing laws are already strong enough to address these problems, while the new laws are so vaguely worded that they can be used to silence opposition politicians and the press. Against this background, foreign media reported a number of cases in which opposition-minded activists who crossed the authorities were taken to insane asylums, a common practice during the Soviet era."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Human rights organizations and activists have identified various individuals as political prisoners: Zara Murtazaliyeva, Mikhail Trepashkin, Valentin Danilov, Igor Sutyagin, Mikhail Khodorkovskiy, Platon Lebedev, and Svetlana Bakhmina; all remained imprisoned at the end of 2006 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19302]

For more detailed information, please see the report

"Zara Murtazaliyeva, a 22-year-old Chechen citizen, was arrested in March 2004 in Moscow. In January 2005, Moscow City court found her found guilty of charges of preparing to carry out a terrorist attack in Moscow; involving other people in the commitment of a terrorist act; and illegal acquisition and storage of explosive substances, and sentenced her to nine years in a general regime prison. Murtazaliyeva`s defense lawyers as well as human rights defenders who monitored the trial believed that the charges against her were fabricated. (…) The 2004 conviction of Mikhail Trepashkin, a former consultant to a parliamentary commission investigating possible FSB involvement in a series of 1999 apartment bombings, gave further cause for concern about the undue influence of the FSB and arbitrary use of the judicial system. The bombings were officially blamed on Chechens and served as partial justification for the government's resumption of the armed conflict against Chechen fighters. Trepashkin, an attorney and former FSB official, was arrested in 2003 and charged with disclosing state secrets and illegal possession of a handgun and ammunition. (…)

In 2004 the Supreme Court overturned the 2003 jury acquittal of Valentin Danilov, who had been charged with spying for China while working on a commercial contract. (…) In August 2005 the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Igor Sutyagin, a disarmament researcher with the US and Canada Institute, of his conviction on espionage-related charges. Prosecutors accused Sutyagin of passing classified information about the country's nuclear weapons to a London based firm. (…) In May 2005 Mikhail Khodorkovskiy and codefendant Platon Lebedev were convicted on six charges of fraud, tax evasion, and embezzlement and sentenced to nine years in prison after an 11 month trial. (…) Some human rights groups considered Svetlana Bakhmina, a lawyer who worked for Yukos Oil Company (Yukos), to be a political prisoner. She was arrested in December 2004 on fraud charges and held without bail. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies. The criminal procedure code provides that an individual or business may seek civil compensation for a criminal violation. The law clearly provides for bringing a criminal or civil case on human rights violations, but implementation is inconsistent."

Document(s): Open document

06.02.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Attorneys of imprisoned businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky detained for an hour without explanation, during which their papers including confidential legal documents, were scrutinised ("Detention of Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s Defense Lawyers Violates European Convention on Human Rights and United Nations Principles") [ID 18583]

Document(s): Open document

23.10.2006 - Source: Guardian

Moscow: Work by ethnic Georgian artist destroyed and owner of art gallery displaying his work beaten up; political art displayed in same gallery seized by officials ("Moscow gallery attack and art seizure raise fears") [ID 17503]

Document(s): Open document

11.07.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

15 years after collapse of communist totalitarianism still political prisoners in Russia; citizens like Igor Sutyagin, Valentin Danilov and Mikhail Trepashkin convicted and imprisoned after politically motivated trials ("Six Points for the G7") [ID 15408]

"It is an appalling fact that 15 years after the collapse of communist totalitarianism in the Soviet Union, numerous individuals are incarcerated in Russia after politically-motivated trials. Dozens of Russian citizens have been thus convicted and imprisoned, eroding faith in Russia as a nation that respects the freedom of conscience and the rule of law. No one can accept that Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev would be in prison today, had they not exercised their basic political rights and freedoms. Members of the G-7 must express their concerns that citizens like Igor Sutyagin (pronounced a “political prisoner” by Amnesty International), Valentin Danilov, and Mikhail Trepashkin have been convicted and imprisoned after politically motivated trials, and others—Oscar Kaibyshev and O. Korobeinichev, seem destined for a similar fate."

Document(s): Open document

24.03.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Lawyer Mikhail Trepashkin supposedly convicted under falsified criminal charges to prevent him continuing investigative and legal work related to 1999 apartment bombings in Moscow ("Amnesty International calls for Mikhail Trepashkin to be released pending a full review of his case [EUR 46/013/2006]") [#47401], [ID 11532]

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Political Prisoners ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11533]

"Many human rights organizations stated that Igor Sutyagin was a political prisoner, and the representatives of various domestic human rights organizations also characterized several other individuals, such as Valentin Danilov, Mikhail Khodorkovskiy, Platon Lebedev, Zara Murtazaliyeva, and Mikhail Trepashkin, as political prisoners."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Government apparently pursued selective prosecution against political adversaries; some human rights groups considered Mikhail Khodorkovskiy and Svetlana Bakhmina to be political detainees ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11534]

"There were several reports of political detainees at various times during the year. Despite significant reforms in law enforcement in recent years, instances in which the government apparently pursued selective prosecution against political adversaries raised concerns over the arbitrary use of the judicial system. For example many observers considered the arrest, detention, and conviction on charges of fraud of prominent businessman Mikhail Khodorkovskiy to be an illustration of this problem, regardless of his guilt or innocence on the specific charges. In the months before his arrest in 2003, Khodorkovskiy had reportedly supported organizations, political parties, and media critical of the Putin administration. However, other observers believed that the case was driven by economic rather than political motives. Some human rights groups considered Svetlana Bakhmina, a lawyer who worked for Yukos Oil Company (Yukos), to be a political detainee. She was arrested in December 2004 on fraud charges and held without bail. Several organizations expressed concern about reports regarding Bakhmina's lack of access to her family and medical treatment while in custody. Some observers stated that she was being held in an attempt to pressure Dmitriy Gololobov, her former boss at Yukos, to return from London. On September 5, a Moscow city court ruled that she could be held in detention until October 7. In October her trial began in Moscow, and the case was ongoing at year's end. Many observers saw the treatment of Bakhmina as linked to the Khodorkovskiy case."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Some observers believed that Khodorkovskiy was selectively targeted for prosecution because of his politically-oriented activities and as a warning to other oligarchs ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11535]

"On May 31, Mikhail Khodorkovskiy and co-defendant Platon Lebedev were convicted on six charges of fraud, tax evasion, and embezzlement and sentenced to 9 years in prison after an 11-month trial. Khodorkovskiy's conviction was upheld on appeal on September 21, with the sentence reduced to eight years. Both Khodorkovskiy and Lebedev continued to appeal their convictions. The arrest and conviction of Khodorkovskiy raised concerns about the rule of law, including the independence of courts, the right to due process, the sanctity of contracts and property rights, and the lack of a predictable tax regime. Many observers believed that Khodorkovskiy's conviction was the most recent of a number of politically-motivated moves against wealthy "oligarchs" who represented centers of actual or potential political and media opposition to the president. Some observers believed that despite the possibility that the charges against Khodorkovskiy may have had some merit, he was selectively targeted for prosecution because of his own politically-oriented activities and as a warning to other oligarchs against involvement in political affairs or providing financial support to independent civil society. In October the authorities transferred Khodorkovskiy to a prison in Chita Oblast and Lebedev to a prison in Yamalo-Nenetskiy Autonomous Okrug. In December Lebedev's defense team filed an appeal stating that sending him to a prison that was not in the area where Lebedev lived or was sentenced violated Russian law. Some human rights activists have objected to sentencing both men to prisons that were not in the area where they lived or were sentenced."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

According NGOs, defense lawyers were the targets of police harassment ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11536]

"According to the NGO the Independent Council of Legal Expertise, defense lawyers were the targets of police harassment. Professional associations at both the local and federal levels reported police efforts to intimidate attorneys and cover up their own criminal activities. In March 2004 Yevgeniy Baru, lawyer for Khodorkovskiy's codefendant Platon Lebedev, was attacked after a visit with his client. Baru reported that prison officials, including the warden, confiscated written and printed materials from his briefcase. In April 2004 five men who reportedly shouted, "You got what you're asking for. No more speeches [in court] for you," knocked human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov unconscious on the Moscow metro. After regaining consciousness, Markelov discovered that his mobile phone containing the phone numbers of his clients, his lawyer's license card, and other identity documents and case files were missing, but his money had not been stolen. Amnesty International (AI) expressed concern that he was targeted due to his work on behalf of victims in several human rights cases that relate to Chechnya. On September 23, Robert Amsterdam, a member of Khodorkovskiy's international legal team had his visa revoked by the authorities and had to leave the country."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Violent and sometimes fatal attacks by skinhead groups; Timur Kacharava, a member of an anti-fascist youth movement, was stabbed to death ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11537]

"Violent and sometimes fatal attacks by skinhead groups were a problem. On November 13, Timur Kacharava, a university student and a member of an anti-fascist youth movement, was stabbed to death. Approximately 10 to 15 people attacked Kacharava and a friend in St. Petersburg. His friend survived the attack and was hospitalized with serious injuries. Kacharava's friends stated that the attackers were members of a neo-Nazi group that had previously attacked Kachavara. Observers believed that the attack may have been motivated by his activism in the youth anti-fascist movement. In December the authorities reported progress in the investigation of Kacharava's death. According to different sources, 5 to 11 people were arrested and five of them confessed to taking part in the attack. One of the suspects reportedly confessed that he stabbed Kacharava in the neck. All the arrested individuals allegedly claimed that they were members of a skinhead group."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Conviction of Mikhail Trepashkin, who had been investigating possible FSB involvement in a series of 1999 apartment bombings ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11538]

"The May 2004 conviction of Mikhail Trepashkin, who had been a consultant to a parliamentary commission investigating possible FSB involvement in a series of 1999 apartment bombings, gave further cause for concern about the undue influence of the FSB and arbitrary use of the judicial system. The bombings were officially blamed on Chechens and served as partial justification for the government's resumption of the armed conflict against Chechen fighters. Trepashkin, an attorney and former FSB official, was arrested in 2003 and charged with disclosing state secrets and with illegal possession of a handgun and ammunition. The Moscow circuit military court sentenced him to four years of forced labor, but he was not expected to start serving his term until the conclusion of a hearing on the handgun charge. The trial reconvened in December 2004. Trepashkin's arrest came a month after his charges of FSB responsibility for the bombings were cited in a book and a week before he was scheduled to represent the relatives of a victim of one of those bombings. On April 15, a Moscow court found Trepashkin guilty of illegal possession of a handgun and added one year to his four-year term, although this additional ruling was later reversed on appeal. At the end of July, Trepashkin began serving his prison term in Nizhniy Tagil. On August 19, Trepashkin appealed for an early release from prison, and on August 29, a Nizhniy Tagil court granted him early release. On September 16, however, a Sverdlovsk regional court overturned the August 29 ruling. On September 22, according to reports, Trepashkin was again taken into custody. He was sent back to the Nizhniy Tagil prison camp. A new hearing on his early release was held on November 24, and the Nizhniy Tagil court turned down his application for release on parole. Trepashkin's attorneys had an appeal pending before the Sverdlovsk regional court at year's end. In a letter to State Duma deputy Yevgeniy Roizman, Trepashkin said he feared for his life since he was kept together with convicts who had committed capital crimes. In other statements, Trepashkin said that he was receiving no treatment for his severe asthma and that he was concerned about his health."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Government generally respected freedom of association, but increasingly harassed several organizations of whose policies it disapproved ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11539]

"The law provides for freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right; however, the government increasingly harassed several organizations of whose policies it disapproved. Public organizations must register their bylaws and the names of their leaders with the MOJ. There was no clear evidence that these registration requirements were being used to discourage or prevent the formation of associations; however, they afford an opening for abuse on the part of the authorities. The law requires that political parties have 50 thousand members nationwide, at least 500 representatives in each of half of the country's regions, and no fewer than 250 members in each of the remaining regions in order to be registered (see section 3). In addition the finances of registered organizations are subject to investigation by the tax authorities and foreign grants must be registered. The authorities subjected some NGOs to lengthy investigations of their finances or delayed the registration of their foreign financed programs. Some NGOs said that these actions were intended to restrict their activities (see section 4)."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

National Bolshevik Party banned ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11540]

"On August 16, the Supreme Court overturned a June decision by a lower court forcing the closure of the radical National Bolshevik Party. On October 5, the Presidium of the Supreme Court canceled the August 16 decision of the Supreme Court and sent the case back for new hearings. On November 15, the Supreme Court ruled in favor previous Moscow Regional Court's decision to ban the party."

Document(s): Open document

01.2006 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Many observers believe Khodorkovsky, Lebedev and Kasyanov were prosecuted primarily because the Kremlin perceived them as a political threat ("World Report 2006") [#42318], [ID 11541]

"When Mikhail Kasyanov, a former prime minister, hinted he might run for president in 2008, law enforcement bodies suddenly opened investigations into alleged wrongdoing during his term in office. The prosecution of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev, the former head and a key shareholder of the Yukos oil company, ended in guilty verdicts and an eight-year prison term for each. Many observers believe the men were prosecuted primarily because the Kremlin perceived them as a political threat."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Former officer of Federal Security Service Mikhail Trepashkin convicted of disclosing state secrets arrested again less than 3 weeks after being released from custody ("Former Russian FSB Officer Arrested Again") [#36841], [ID 11542]

Document(s): Open document

02.09.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Activists of anti-Kremlin youth organisations beaten by alleged Nashi members, a pro-Kremlin youth group ("Russia: The Kremlin's New Team?") [#36171], [ID 11543]

Document(s): Open document

23.08.2005 - Source: BBC News

Jailed businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky went on hunger strike over what he sees as unfair treatment of his ex-business partner ("Khodorkovsky begins hunger strike") [#35776], [ID 11544]

Document(s): Open document

23.08.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Tatarstan: Former State Duma deputy sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison on charges of fraud and embezzlement ("Former Russian Parliamentarian Sentenced In Tatarstan") [#35754], [ID 11545]

Document(s): Open document

16.08.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Ban lifted on National Boshevik Party ("Russia Lifts Ban On Nationalist Party") [#35498], [ID 11546]

Document(s): Open document

11.07.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Bashkortostan: Authorities reportedly charge Airat Dilmukhametov, leader of the unregistered opposition Bashkir National Congress, with extremism ("Bashkir Authorities Reportedly Charge Opposition Leader With Extremism") [#33831], [ID 11547]

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

Killings of state officials may have been politically motivated ("Honouring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation [Doc. 10568]") [#32710], [ID 11548]

"271. There were a number of killings of state officials throughout the country, some of which may have been politically motivated, in connection with either the ongoing strife in Chechnya, or with politics. A prominent Duma Deputy and Liberal Russia party co-chairman, Sergey Yushenkov, was shot dead on 17 April 2003. Yushenkov had been an outspoken critic of the Putin Administration on a number of issues, and was engaged in rivalry for leadership within his own party. The first court hearing on Yushenkov's case was held on DecembeAr 26. In March 2004 a jury at the Moscow City Court found Mikhail Kadanyev, former leader of the Liberal Russia party and a supporter of President Putin's adversary Boris Berezovskiy, and three associates guilty in organising the assassination.

272. Yuri Shchekochikhin, a Member of the Duma and chief editor of Novaya Gazeta, died in July 2003 under mysterious circumstances (the cause of death was described as an 'acute allergic reaction'). He had a long-standing reputation for investigative journalism, particularly for unmasking corruption in the Moscow City Council, the Ministry of Defence, the Prosecutor-General's Office, and the Russian military forces in Chechnya. Along with Yushenkov, he had begun to investigate charges of FSB responsibility for a series of 1999 apartment building bombings at the time of his death154. According to the Russian delegation's comments, the Russian federal centre for forensic expertise at the Ministry of Justice found no indications that the death was caused by violence or chemical poisoning. Therefore, the Moscow city prosecutor's office refused to institute a criminal case in August 2003. The Prosecutor General's Office upheld this decision."

Document(s): Open document

31.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Former head of YUKOS and his business partner found guilty of charges, including tax evasion and fraud, and sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment; concerns that their conviction followed an unfair trial ("On the conviction of Mikhail Khodorkovskii and Platon Lebedev") [#32508], [ID 11549]

Document(s): Open document

31.05.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Former head of the Yukos oil company, Khodorkowsky, charged with fraud, tax evasion and embezzlement and sentenced to 9 years in prison ("Russia: Khodorkovsky sentencing illuminates erosion of rule of law") [#32551], [ID 11550]

Document(s): Open document

28.04.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Sergei Mitrohin, Yabloko deputy chairman, and Denis Terekhov, press secretary for the Union of Rightist Forces, detained for participating in protest outside Belarussian Embassy against president Lukashenka ("Moscow Police Detain Politician At Lukashenka Protest") [#31682], [ID 11551]

Document(s): Open document

28.07.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Police reportedly used violence against demonstrators in Moscow, 2 of Yabloko party members injured; unspecified number of Yabloko activists reportedly detained; 10 journalists covering the event temporarily arrested ("Police in Moscow rough up more demonstrators (Newsline Volume 8 Number 142)") [#24323], [ID 11552]

"“The Yabloko press service reported on 27 July that two members of the party were taken to a hospital following a rally outside FSB headquarters in Moscow, Ekho Moskvy and Interfax reported. The two injured, Irina Vorobeva and Aleksei Kozhin, are members of the party's youth wing, and one of them is reportedly in serious condition. According to Ekho Moskvy, a detachment of Interior Ministry special forces (OMON) personnel initially detained 10 journalists who were covering the event and later released them. An unspecified number of Yabloko activists were also detained and are reportedly being threatened with 15 days' detention. According to Interfax, the demonstration was not sanctioned by authorities. Last month, police reportedly used violence against demonstrators in another unsanctioned protest in Moscow (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 2 June 2004). JAC”"

Document(s): Open document

27.07.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Businessman and head of association of entrepreneurs Yambaev, allegedly beaten and injured by people working for Ulyanovsk oblast governor Shamanov; the attack came after Yambaev asked the governor to leave the oblast and not to seek reelection ("Local businessman finds trip to governor's dacha not so nice (Newsline Volume 8 Number 141)") [#24307], [ID 11553]

"The Yabloko press service reported on 27 July that two members of the party were taken to a hospital following a rally outside FSB headquarters in Moscow, Ekho Moskvy and Interfax reported. The two injured, Irina Vorobeva and Aleksei Kozhin, are members of the party's youth wing, and one of them is reportedly in serious condition. According to Ekho Moskvy, a detachment of Interior Ministry special forces (OMON) personnel initially detained 10 journalists who were covering the event and later released them. An unspecified number of Yabloko activists were also detained and are reportedly being threatened with 15 days' detention. According to Interfax, the demonstration was not sanctioned by authorities. Last month, police reportedly used violence against demonstrators in another unsanctioned protest in Moscow (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 2 June 2004). JAC"

Document(s): Open document

22.07.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

Human rights defender received numerous death threats, reportedly in connection with his participation in the trial of a neo-Nazi organization in Orel, western Russia ("Russian Federation - UA 229/04") [#24162], [ID 11554]

Document(s): Open document

23.06.2004 - Source: BBC News

According to the Economy Minister, the case against Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the oil billionaire, had "a certain political element" ("Tycoon's trial 'partly political'") [#23489], [ID 11555]

Document(s): Open document