MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI) – The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that certain categories of Russian criminals are legitimately exempt from life imprisonment.

Russian nationals Alsan Khamtokhu and Artyom Aksenchik, who are currently serving life sentences following their convictions of a number of serious crimes, filed claims with the ECHR alleging that Article 57 of the Russian Criminal Code envisaging life imprisonment for certain particularly serious crimes discriminates against adult males, since women, persons under 18 or over 65 are exempted from this punishment.

The Court joined the applications of the two claimants, who relied on several Articles of the Convention, in particular Article 5 (right to liberty and security) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) with regard to difference in punishments depending on age and sex.

ECHR held that the exemptions at issue had not been discriminatory within the meaning of Articles 14 and 5 of the Convention recognizing the approach to life sentencing as set in the Russian Criminal Code to be justified and legitimate taking into account its aim to promote principles of justice and humanity.

It is worth noting that six out of 17 Grand Chamber judges presented their separate opinions on the matter.