ECtHR obliges Russia to pay compensation to journalists beaten up in Ingushetia

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has obliged the Russian authorities to pay 19,500 euros in compensation for moral damage to human rights defender Oleg Orlov and three journalists kidnapped in Ingushetia in 2007.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 23, 2007, in Nazran, Oleg Orlov, the chair of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", and Karen Sakhinov, Artyom Vysotsky, and Stanislav Goryachikh, three journalists of the "Ren-TV" Channel, were kidnapped from the "Assa" Hotel and beaten. They were also threatened with execution. According to Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, a representative of the HRC "Memorial" in Ingushetia, the kidnapping was organized by the Ingush authorities.

The European Court of Human Rights has considered the complaint filed by Oleg Orlov and three journalists about kidnapping and ill-treatment from public officials, illegal deprivation of liberty, confiscation of personal belongings, and lack of effective investigation into the incident to be carried out by the authorities, the ECtHR's press service reports.

The European Court has pronounced the decision to pay 1610 euros to Oleg Orlov, 1160 euros to Artyom Vysotsky, and 830 euros to Karen Sakhinov in compensation for pecuniary damage. Besides, 2400 euros are to be paid to complainants in compensation for legal expenses, and each of the complainants is to be paid 19,500 in compensation for moral damage, the ECtHR's website reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.