MOSCOW, October 24 (RAPSI) – The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) held that rights of deceased activist member of the Voyna (War) art group, Leonid Nikolayev, had been violated and ruled that Russian authorities must pay €1,300 in compensation for his longtime detention.

Nikolayev died in September 2015. His mother took part in the proceedings on his behalf, the court ruling says.

Nikolayev and Oleg Vorotnikov, members of the Voyna group, were arrested in November 2010, at a rally organized by Voyna, called "Dvortsovy Perevorot" ("Revolution Palace"). During the rally, artists overturned a police car near Mikhailovsky Palace in St. Petersburg. The culprits were accused of hooliganism, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. Nikolayev spent 3 months in detention.

In his application Nikolayev complained over alleged violation of the Article 5 (Right to liberty and security of person) of the European Convention on Human Rights (Convention).

His complaint was considered along with other four applications consolidated on grounds of alleged violation of the Article 5. Total amount of compensations awarded to applicants came to €13,500.