Group’s Grozny office set on fire Three killed Activists detained M.Lesin Memorial Yukos A.Navalny M.Alekhina Kh.Zakayev V.Yevtushenkov | North Caucasus On 13/12 the office of the Joint Mobile Group of human rights defenders was set on fire after some of its activists criticized Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov for his statements promoting collective punishment. (RFE/RL, 14/12) On 15/12 Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called on Russian authorities to take measures to end a campaign of "persecution" against human rights defenders in Chechnya and to offer them protection. (RFE/RL, 15/12) On 18/12 security officials in Kabardino-Balkaria declared a counter-terrorism regime after gunfire battles between militants and government forces. Authorities said three suspected militants were killed. (The Moscow Times, 18/12; RFE/RL, 18/12) Freedom of speech On 18/12 Moscow police detained 19 activists near the building where President Vladimir Putin held his annual news conference. The activists wanted to ask Putin what they said were "inconvenient questions." (RFE/RL, 18/12) On 19/12 Mikhail Lesin, the head of state-controlled Russian broadcasting giant Gazprom-Media, has announced his resignation from the post. (RFE/RL, 19/12) Right of association On 17/12 the Supreme Court postponed until 28/1/15 a hearing on a Justice Ministry suit aimed at shutting the prominent human rights group Memorial. (RFE/RL, 17/12) Trials On 16/12 the ECtHR said it had rejected an appeal by Russia over a ruling that it must pay 1.9 billion euros in damages to shareholders of Yukos. (The Moscow Times, 17/12) On 19/12 prosecutors asked a court to sentence Aleksei Navalny to 10 years in prison. He has been charged with theft and money laundering. (RFE/RL, 19/12) Investigations On 15/12 police in Nizhny Novgorod said they have suspended an investigation into an attack on Maria Alekhina, member of the punk group Pussy Riot, at McDonald’s in March 2014. (RAPSI , 15/12) On 17/12 Moscow City Court said Khasan Zakayev, a suspected organizer of the 2002 hostage siege at the Dubrovka theater has been remanded in custody until 18/2/15. (RFE/RL, 17/12) On 17/12 billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov was released from house arrest less than two months after a controversial ruling to nationalize his stake in an oil company. (RFE/RL, 17/12) |
