A new stage of the high-profile case of the Kirov pacifist Nikita Konev will be reviewed in the European Court of Human Rights.
Let us recall that Nikita Konev applied to alternative civilian service. But instead of attending to consider the application by due process of law, the military enlistment office sent the case to the investigating authorities. As a result, a pacifist was convicted of evading military service and sentenced to a fine of 130 thousand rubles in spring 2013.
Lawyer of the convicted Sergei Golubok, a specialist in the field of international human rights and the protection of constitutional rights, having experience in the European Court of Human Rights, said that the ECHR has received and registered a complaint of Konev under number 67685/13. Defense believes that the Russian Federation violated Article 9 of the Convention on Human Rights against the pacifist, which provides the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
"I am glad that there is some progress, I think the court will further rejoice us with good news," Nikita says. "Considering the fact that review of cases at the ECHR is quite a long procedure, it is hoped that my complaint will be considered as soon as possible."
The case of Konev gained an unusual public response not only on a scale of the Murmansk region, but also at the federal level. The situation was followed by members of the Presidential Council on Civil Society and Human Rights. Permanent public observers of the process of Nikita Konev were members of the Regional Youth Council for Human Rights of the Murmansk region and member of the Expert Council under the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia — Irina Paykacheva.
Alexander Peredruk, «7x7»
Original: http://7x7-journal.ru/item/36363