Week-ending 31 January 2020
RUSSIAN FEDERATION: KONSTANTIN KOTOV SHOULD BE RELEASED, “DADIN’S ARTICLE” REPEALED
On 27 January 2020, Russia’s Constitutional Court ordered a review of the conviction of activist Konstantin Kotov. He is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for “repeated violation of the established procedure of organizing or holding public events” under Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code (popularly known as “Dadin’s Article”, after Ildar Dadin, the first exercise his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Konstantin Kotov is a prisoner of conscience and should be released immediately and unconditionally. Amnesty International, 28 January 2020
Russian activist’s sentence for repeated violations at rallies appealed in cassation
MOSCOW – A 4-year jail sentence given to activist Konstantin Kotov for repeated violations of a rally holding order has been appealed in cassation, his lawyer Maria Eismont has told RAPSI. According to the attorney, Kotov should be released as soon as possible. Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court convicted and sentenced Kotov in September. A month later, the Moscow City Court upheld the verdict. RAPSI, 31 January 2020
