The European court of human rights (ECtHR) issued two judgments on claims against Russia. Four refugee awarded compensation for the stay in the transit area of Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. In addition, the court in Strasbourg ordered Russia to pay about 51.5 thousand euros
the residents of Nizhny Novgorod, exposed in 2004, torture in the office of the police Department.
As stated in the press release of the court, the lawsuit to the ECHR was filed by four refugees from Iraq, Palestine, Somalia and Syria, which was not allowed in Russia. The migrants had for a long time to stay in the transit zone of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. The plaintiffs tried to get in Russia the status of refugees. But all of them were denied entry because of problems with documents that were found by customs officers.
After refusing three arrivals were in the transit area of the airport from five to eight months in 2015-2016. A citizen of Somalia remained at the airport from 9 APR 2015 to 9 March 2017.
In the end, after the proceedings, the citizens of Iraq and Syria were sent to Denmark and Sweden, through the office of the UN high Commissioner for refugees. Arrived from Palestine refugee flew to Egypt. A Somali citizen went to the capital of his native Mogadishu.
Refugees in the lawsuit said that at the airport they had to live in poor conditions. The court ruled that Russia had violated article 3 (“Inhuman or degrading treatment”), and section 1 of article 5 (“Right to liberty and security of person”) of the European Convention on human rights.
The decision of the court in Strasbourg, the Russian government has to pay 15 thousand euros to the Palestinians, at 20 thousand euros, Iraqi and Syria, another 26 thousand Euro citizen of Somalia. In addition, 3.5 thousand euros each of the plaintiffs should receive to cover legal costs.
Nizhegorodets will receive 51,5 thousand euros
On Tuesday, the ECtHR also handed down a verdict in the case of residents of Nizhny Novgorod, exposed in 2004, torture in the police station. The court ordered Russia to pay about 51.5 thousand euros to the victim.
As stated in the press release of the court, Anton Shestopalov born in 1986 at the time of arrest was a minor. “He was subjected to violence at the police station. As a result of torture he signed accusing his testimony, despite the fact that he was not guilty of anything”, – is spoken in the document which is quoted by TASS.
Earlier it was reported that the student Anton Shestopalov was taken to the Soviet district police Department of Nizhniy Novgorod on 24 may 2004 on suspicion of raping his classmate. As reported the teenager, in the office of the police Department he was beaten by five plain-clothes policemen, demanding to confess to the crime. The boy choked a wooden stick and put a bag on your head. After that he was given the Protocol, where it was written that he admits to violent acts.
Under pressure from Anton signed all the documents, after which it was allowed to go home. However, after a week of his “confession” was refuted by the victim, which stated that Shestopalov is not related to the crime.
The doctors fixed the young man a concussion and numerous abrasions on the limbs, head and body.
As informs NIA “Nizhni Novgorod”verification of the facts of beating of the teenager, the regional Prosecutor’s office led to a period of two years. Six times prosecutors took out the decision about refusal in excitation of criminal case. 20 Feb 2006 case was filed yet, but because of the inability to identify suspects, it stopped. May 24, 2014, the Statute of limitations for bringing to criminal responsibility for the crime – the perpetrators were never found and punished.
However, in November 2008, the Soviet district court of Nizhni Novgorod has sentenced Anton Shestopalov 50 thousand rubles as compensation of moral harm. Later with the help of human rights defenders, he was able to sue and cash compensation in the amount of 100 thousand rubles. 16 Oct 2007 the lawyers of Nizhny Novgorod “Committee against torture” filed in the interests Shestopalova complaint to the ECHR.
The ECHR considered on Tuesday, March 28, the case, ruled that Russian authorities had violated article 3 (“Prohibition of torture”) of the European Convention on human rights. According to the court, Russia should pay the plaintiff 48.5 thousand Euro as moral damages, and to reimburse the legal costs in the amount of 3 thousand euros.