Freedom of expression
On 29/3 criminal charges against performance artist Petr Pavlensky were reclassified from ‘vandalism’ to ‘damaging a cultural heritage site.’ On 25/3 he had been put in a punishment cell for 10 days. (The Moscow Times, 29/3; HRO.org, 28/3)

On 30/3 a Krasnodar court upheld a 2-year sentence against Darya Poliudova convicted of ‘inciting extremism and separatism’ for criticising RF actions in Ukraine and attempting a peaceful ‘federalization march.’ (Human Rights in Ukraine, 31/3)

Well-known independent journalist Dmitry Tsilikin was found dead in his apartment on 31/3 in St. Petersburg. His laptop computer and mobile phone were missing. (RFE/RL, 1/4)

On 1/4 authorities launched a hate-crime investigation against Kursk regional lawmaker Olga Li for comments she published on social media critical of President Putin. (RFE/RL, 1/4)

On 1/4 it was reported the Federal Education and Science Supervision Agency has suspended academic accreditation for the European University at Saint Petersburg. (Meduza,1/4)

Right of assembly
On 29/3 Sergei Udaltsov, sentenced to 4.5 years in prison in July 2014 for organizing an anti-government rally that turned violent in Moscow on the eve of Putin’s inauguration to a third term in May 2012, was denied early release. (RFE/RL, 29/3)

On 31/3 a Moscow court rejected Ildar Dadin’s appeal against his 3-year prison sentence under an anti-protest law. The sentence was reduced by 6 months. (Human Rights in Ukraine, 1/4)

Investigative journalists in Ekaterinburg from 66.ru discovered local officials would permit pro-government demonstrations, but ban demonstrations against government policies. (Meduza, 31/3)

Right of association
On 30/3 Moscow City Court cancelled a fine imposed on the Sakharov Centre for not complying with the ‘foreign agent’ law and returned the case to a district court. (RFE/RL, 30/3)

Elections
On 28/3 ex-human rights ombudsman Ella Pamfilova was elected head of the Central Election Commission. (RFE/RL, 28/3)

Ukraine-related 
On 31/3 new charges of fraud were laid against Natalya Sharina, director of the Moscow Library of Ukrainian Literature. (The Moscow Times, 31/3)