Human rights defenders rally in Moscow in support of persecuted NGO(Prague Watchdog) - About thirty people, mostly prominent Russian human rights activists, took part in a rally today that was held in central Moscow. It was in support of an NGO whose reports on the conflict in Chechnya resulted, amongst other things, in criminal charges and frozen accounts.
The Society of Russian-Chechen Frienship, based in Nizhny Novgorod, has been charged with tax evasion and ordered to pay over one million roubles to the state for alleged tax arrears and fines. Based on various charges the Society‘s chairman and editor of the "Pravozashchita" newspaper, Stanislav Dmitriyevsky, faces a prison sentence.
The Russian human rights groups believe this is all politically motivated and the real reason for the persecution is to get rid of one of the few sources left who‘ve been writing uncensored reports on the conflict in Chechnya. And also, this case might set a dangerous precedent to crackdown on other NGO‘s critical of the Russian leadership.
Therefore, they gathered this afternoon in front of the Federal Tax Service building at Neglinnaya Street. Taking part in the rally were representatives of Memorial, the Moscow Helsinki Group, Demos, For Human Rights, The Society of Russian-Chechen Friendship, and others and included, for example, Sergei Kovalyov, Tanya Loksina, Aleksander Cherkassov, and Yuri Samodurov.
The court hearing is set for October 26, and the Society of Russian-Chechen Friendship will appeal the tax charges. (T/E)
DISCUSSION FORUM
|
