The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued a ruling against the Russian Federation, siding with Novaya Gazeta and other claimants in several cases concerning violations of the right to freedom of expression. This decision marks a significant legal development, stemming from Russia’s actions following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Laws were quickly passed targeting news outlets that disseminated information deemed undesirable about the conflict. As a result, a number of independent media outlets, including Novaya Gazeta, Dozhd TV, and Mediazona, were blocked by the Russian government. A detailed overview of the ruling can be accessed on the ECHR database.
Beyond censorship, the Russian Federation threatened legal action against figures such as Dmitriy Muratov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, and Natalya Sindeyeva, director of Dozhd TV. The ECHR’s judgment extends to 161 individual claimants prosecuted for anti-war activities, including public demonstrations and defacement of symbols supporting the invasion. Notably, journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza and social media critic Olga Smirnova were among the individuals involved.
The court concluded that Russia infringed upon Article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which enshrines the right to freedom of expression. The ECHR deemed the Russian measures as both disproportionate and unnecessary within a democratic society. Additional breaches of Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 34 of the Convention were noted related to the arrests and legal proceedings against the applicants.
As part of the ruling, the ECHR has ordered the Russian Federation to provide financial compensation to the affected parties within a three-month period. For further details on the case and its implications, JURIST provides comprehensive coverage.