The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a ruling on the joint lawsuit of Russians and organizations declared as 'foreign agents' against Russia, demanding compensation of up to a million euros to the applicants, reports «Agency»*. The ECHR ruled that Russia violated Articles 10 and 11 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms — the articles on the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. Additionally, the court ruled that the eighth article of the convention — the right to respect for private and family life — was violated in relation to those declared as 'foreign agents' in Russia.
Russia must pay the plaintiffs up to 955 thousand euros for material damages, up to 10 thousand euros for non-material damages, and 850 euros for legal costs. According to the decision, the money must be paid within three months, and in case of delay, interest will be applied to the specified amounts.
In September 2022, Russia withdrew from the Council of Europe and announced its withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the ECHR. The country refused to comply with court decisions made after March 15, 2022. However, the court considered that it had jurisdiction to consider these claims, as the applicants were recognized as 'foreign agents' and fined until September 16, 2022, when Russia ceased to be a participant in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Among those awarded compensation are Evgenia Albats and the publication The New Times, «Mediazona», its publisher Pyotr Verzilov* and editor-in-chief Sergey Smirnov*, «Radio Liberty», The Insider, Bellingcat**, «Important Stories»** and their former editor-in-chief Roman Anin*, TV channel «Dozhd», editor-in-chief of «Kholod»* Taisiya Bekbulatova*, editor-in-chief of «Proekt» Roman Badanin*, Elizaveta Osetinskaya*, journalist Yuri Dud. Plaintiffs included human rights organizations listed as 'foreign agents': politician Lev Ponomarev* and the movement «For Human Rights»*, the «Public Verdict» foundation*, «International Memorial»* and its board chairman Yan Rachinsky, the human rights center «Memorial»* and its council chairman Alexander Cherkasov, «No to Violence»*, founder of «First Department»* Ivan Pavlov*, chairman of the «Committee Against Torture» Sergey Babinets*, and others.
In the summer, the European Court of Human Rights obliged Russia to pay hundreds of thousands of euros to four associations and about 80 individuals in connection with the 2015 law on 'undesirable' organizations.
* Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent'.
** Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent' and 'undesirable' organization.