MOSCOW, December 13 (RAPSI) – The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that rights of Garry Kasparov, a Russian opposition leader and former world chess champion, were violated during a 2007 anti-government rally in Moscow.

The ECHR ordered Russia to pay Kasparov and another applicant 5,000 euros each in respect of non-pecuniary damage. Kasparov should be payed extra 3,000 euros in respect of costs and expenses.

Kasparov was arrested on November 24, 2007 together with six other political activists at the demonstration and brought to the police station. He was charged with a breach of the regulations on holding demonstrations and disobeying police orders. He was later found guilty of both charges. A court ruled that Kasparov marched among some 1,500 people in what had constituted an unauthorised demonstration.

Kasparov denied that there was an organised demonstration or that he called out to anyone to follow him. Nevertheless, he was sentenced to five days’ administrative detention.

Kasparov lodged a complaint with the ECHR along with six other political activists, including Lev Ponomaryov.

The ECHR ruled that there was a violation of article 11 (Freedom of assembly and association) and article 6 (Right to a fair trial) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as regards two applicants, including Kasparov.

Complaints of other activists were deemed inadmissible.