The European Court has compelled Russia to pay 7 thousand euros of compensation for moral harm between Vladislav Lyutarevich and Nikolai Dyachkov. Lyutarevich wrote an offensive slogan about the United Russia Party, and Dyachkov handed out leaflets against the presidential elections in 2018. The decision is reported on the ECHR’s website.
In March 2012, Vladislav Lyutarevich wrote an offensive slogan about the United Russia Party on his car’s rear window. The court fined him for 1 thousand rubles, having considered the inscription to be a campaign material before the election. Later, the regional court overturned this judgement.
In March 2018, Nikolai Dyachkov distributed leaflets with calls not to take part in voting for the president of Russia, because Alexei Navalny was not allowed to participate. The court considered that he had created obstacles to the participation of voters and fined Dyachkov for 4.5 thousand rubles.
The court awarded the activists with 3 thousand euros each and Lutarevich — with 1 thousand euros additionally for legal costs. Russia must pay the money within three months.
Despite Russia’s exclusion from the Council of Europe on March 17, the ECHR decided to consider all violations in Russia until September 16, 2022. This means that Russians can file complaints with the European Court until then. Russia will have to comply with its decisions.
Earlier, the European Court announced that it was suspending consideration of all cases in Russia.