“Memorial”* goes to ECtHR to continue its fight against liquidation

In their complaint filed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), human rights defenders pointed out that with the decision to liquidate the “International Memorial”* (International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society “Memorial”), the authorities of Russia violated a number of articles of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on February 28, the Board of Appeal of the Supreme Court (SC) of Russia upheld the decision to liquidate the “International Memorial”*. On April 5, in Moscow, the court upheld the decision to liquidate the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Memorial”*.

A complaint against the decision to liquidate the “International Memorial”* has been filed to the ECtHR, the Human Rights Protection Centre “Memorial” reports on its Telegram channel. “The liquidation of the ‘International Memorial’* is an interference with the right to freedom of association,” the human rights defenders explain in their post.

Despite the Russia’s withdrawal from the European Convention, the ECtHR considers complaints against the state and makes rulings on them, notes Zhargal Budaev, a lawyer of the Human Rights Protection Centre.

The human rights defenders believe that during the liquidation of the “International Memorial”*, the authorities of Russia violated Article 10 (freedom of expression) and Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Furthermore, the complaint alleges a violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) and Article 18 (limits to the use of restrictions on rights) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Let us remind you that on October 7, the “Memorial”* became one of the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.