Russia’s repeated arrests of opposition leader Alexei Navalny are politically motivated, the European court of human rights (ECHR) has ruled, in a sharp rebuke of the Russian authorities that is sure to provoke anger in Moscow.
In a ruling released on its website, the Strasbourg-based court ruled that seven arrests of the Russian corruption whistleblower dating from 2012 to 2014 were politically motivated under the terms of the European convention on human rights, to which Russia is a partner.
The arrests were aimed at “suppressing political pluralism”, the ruling said.
In a final, binding decision, the court’s grand chamber ordered Russian authorities to pay €63,000 (£55,600) in compensation for moral harm, material damages and court costs.
Navalny, a leading critic of Russian Vladimir Putin, has been repeatedly detained, arrested and charged since 2012, including being convicted for fraud, an act that he has called politically motivated.
Navalny was in court on Thursday, after flying out of Russia on Wednesday. On Tuesday he had been barred from leaving Moscow airport by border guards.
In a tweet on Thursday, he wrote: “We won. Completely. The government was destroyed. They recognised the 18th amendment. Ura!”
Russia has accused the west of backing Navalny and will likely reject the court’s decision with anger. Earlier this year, Russian state news agencies reported that Russia was considering withdrawing from the European convention on human rights. The news agencies also suggested Russia may cease cooperation with the ECHR.
For more read the full of article at The Guardian
