Igor Stenin's defence files complaint to ECtHR

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has received a complaint against the verdict to Igor Stenin, the leader of the movement "Russians of Astrakhan", who is serving his sentence on the charge of public calls for extremism. This was reported by his advocate Natasha Dobreva.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 16, 2016, Igor Stenin was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a settlement colony for a repost in the social network "VKontakte" of an article about the war in Ukraine, which was recognized as extremist. The defence insisted that there was no repost, but there was a comment left by another user.

In Astrakhan, the court has violated the Igor Stenin's right to freedom of expression (Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights), believes the defence of the sentenced activist.

"His sentence is not necessary in a democratic society. Besides, imprisonment is too severe punishment," states the complaint filed by the Igor Stenin's defence to the ECtHR as quoted by the "Kommersant".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Igor Stenin was nominated for the "Hero of the Caucasus-2015", a contest of the "Caucasian Knot", for his persistent defence of his civic position.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.