The Ministry of justice stood up for the police force
Russian Federation answered the questions of the European court of human rights (ECHR) on the complaint of a beaten at a rally in Moscow in July 2013 by the photographers ‘ lens of the activist Dmitry Monakhov. The police hit him on the head, body and choked to death with a rubber truncheon. Russian authorities said that the use of physical force was proportionate to the resistance of the detainee. Human rights activists claim that the police in Moscow do not punish for the use of force against the protesters.
In the Ministry of justice saw no violations in the beating at the rally, activist of the movement “Solidarity” Dmitry Monakhov. This is stated in the answers to the questions of the ECHR, signed by the Deputy Minister of justice of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galperin. “The applicant was not ill-treated, — said in the letter (“b”).— The police used force to end its illegal actions and aggressive behavior.”
Beating Dmitry Monakhov occurred on July 18, 2013, at a rally in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny after the pronouncement of verdict in the case of “Kirovles” (a sentence that assumed five years of imprisonment, was reversed, and the case was remanded for reconsideration).
Mr. Monks was shouting “Freedom to Navalny!”, when approached by police, took over the feet and hands and carried into a paddy wagon.
In the paddy wagon put him on the floor, then the police officer put his hand in the throat of the detainee, and the other hand struck some blows to the head. These pictures were published in many media.
The police tried to take away a camera from a photographer TASS Mikhail Pochuev and demanded to erase the footage, said the ECHR. Meanwhile, the beating of Mr. Monakhov continued: another guard hit him several times with a rubber truncheon. His colleague demanded that the detainee was held in a cage, and then grabbed his hair and pulled him towards the cage (also have pictures). Then the police officer rested him in the chest with his knee and pressed with a rubber truncheon on his throat and then grabbing his genitals and began to twist.
This was seen by the correspondent of “Russian reporter” Alexander Butrin, and the HSE teacher Julia Galiamina heard the screams of the paddy wagon. An hour later, all the detainees were released from the paddy wagon to freedom. Doctors diagnosed Mr. Monakhov closed cherepno-a brain trauma, bruises and pressure marks on the neck.
Then the Commissioner for human rights in Russia Vladimir Lukin took this matter under control. And the head of the presidential Council of the Russian Federation on human rights, Mikhail Fedotov, appealed to the Prosecutor General and the head of the UK with a request to instruct the heads of the Moscow offices of both departments to personally monitor the progress of the investigation. “The evolution of testimony is striking. From the phrase “never was” came to explaining that I applied “relaxing beats”,” says Mr Monks.
The police also explained that they are not choked with a rubber truncheon and pressed fingers on the carotid artery, and the hair had to grab, as other parts of the body was slick with sweat.
A criminal case was initiated.
The answers to the questions of the ECHR, the Russian Federation has specified that “the force was used consistent with the resistance and was necessary because it did not exceed the harm that could be caused by the applicant himself or others if he were not stopped.”
“In objection on the answer of the Russian Federation, we specify that in the paddy wagon was filming. But the record is terminated at the moment of detention Monakhov”, — explained “Kommersant”, the Complainant’s lawyer Ilnur Sharapov. He also recalled that Mr. Monks during the arrest did not violate the law. “It is acknowledged by the police, releasing all detainees,” added Mr. Sharapov.
The head of the international human rights group “Agora” Pavel Chikov said that in Moscow there is no case against the police concerning the beating of detainees at the meetings.
“In the regions even better, the same, “pearl warrant officer” in Saint-Petersburg (was hit with a rubber stick on the head of a man at a rally on 31 July 2010, sentenced to 3.5 years conditionally.— “Kommersant”). But in Moscow, it’s some kind of coherent policy is not to initiate cases against police officers”, — explained “Kommersant” Mr. Chikov.
He recalled that the ECHR still lies the appeal of journalist Alexander Artemyev, who at a rally on 31 July 2010 broke his arm during the arrest. When it became clear that the criminal case will not be the chief editor of “Kommersant” Mikhail Mikhailin left in protest of the public Council at the internal Affairs across Moscow. In addition, the ECHR is the complaint of the journalist Pavel Nikulin, was beaten by the police at a rally on March 5, 2012.
And 6 Dec 2011 at the rally suffered by the journalist of “Kommersant” Alexander Chernykh. “I stood at the back of a paddy wagon press card in hand, I pushed and beaten. Doctors made the diagnosis of “dislocation of cervical vertebra”. For questioning I went another four years, but the criminal case is not opened”, — explained to Kommersant, Mr. Black.
Anastasia Kurilova