European court: Russia must pay €63,000 to critic

PARIS (AA) - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Thursday ruled that Russia should pay €63,000 in compensation to a Russian opposition activist and 2018 presidential candidate over violating his rights to liberty and security.

Alexei Navalny, an anti-corruption blogger, lodged with the court five applications against Russia over violations of his rights during repeated arrests on seven occasions at public meetings in 2012-2014 and his subsequent conviction, according to a statement by the court.

The court said Russia violated the applicant’s right to liberty and security (Articles 5) and rights to a fair trial and freedom of assembly and association (Article 6 and 11) under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The ECHR ordered Russian authorities to pay Navalny about €63,600 in compensation for material and moral damage caused, including €12,653 for costs and expenses.