European Rights Court Rules In Favor Of Kasparov

Garri Kasparov is pictured here during a "March of Millions" protest rally in Moscow in 2012.

Garry Kasparov: Out Of The Country, But Not Out Of The Picture

Russian chess grandmaster and opposition activist Garry Kasparov announced earlier this month that he intends to remain outside of Russia for the foreseeable future because he fears a politically motivated prosecution. But that does not mean he intends to back away from his opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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The European Court of Human Rights has criticized Russia over the 2007 arrest of Garry Kasparov and eight other opposition activists.

The court found on October 3 that the arrest of the former world chess champion and eight other activists ahead of an antigovernment demonstration in Moscow had been "disproportionate to the aim of maintaining public order."

It also ruled that Russia had violated two articles of the European Convention on Human Rights that cover the right to a fair trial and freedom of assembly and association.

The applicants were convicted for having breached the regulations on holding demonstrations and were ordered to pay a fine.

The European court judgment is not final. Parties in the case have three months to appeal.