Tatarstan ombudswoman intervenes on behalf of Agora
KAZAN. Feb 10 (Interfax) - Sariya Saburskaya, commissioner for human rights in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, believes it is too early to put an end to the activities of the Agora human rights association following the ruling of the Tatarstan Supreme Court on Agora's shutdown, the ombudswoman's press service has told Interfax.
"The Agora association's popularity among human rights organizations, which was due to its protecting rights of citizens in courts where cases arising from public relationships were tried, as well as its courtroom representation in cases following claims of compensations for damages inflicted by public institutions. Departure from the rights activism, of any kind of organization bringing real relief to people, causes regrets," the press service quoted Saburskaya as saying.
In her view, it is too early to say following a ruling of a court of the first instance that the activities of a human rights organization will be suspended.
"I believe it is too early to put an end to Agora's work. The court ruling has not come into effect yet," she said.
Human Rights Watch had earlier expressed concern over the judgment of the Tatarstan Supreme Court, noting that "the liquidation of Agora at the claim of the Justice Ministry may be considered solely as a blow to civil society".
Russian Human Rights Commissioner Ella Pamfilova, for her part, said that the Agora human rights association had fallen victim to the excessively loose interpretation of the definition of political activity by the Russian Justice Ministry, describing Agora's liquidation as an alarming trend.
Earlier reports said, citing lawyer Ramil Akhmetgaliyev, that the Tatarstan Supreme Court upheld the claim filed by the Ministry of Justice, ordering a shutdown of the Agora Inter-Regional Association of Human Rights Public Associations on Wednesday.
This is the first time a court has liquidated a human rights organization at the claim of the Justice Ministry, he told Interfax.
"In justification of the action, the Justice Ministry has put forth no argument or reason to believe that the Agora association does threaten national security, foundations of the constitutional system, life and health of other citizens, or that the violations exposed are of an irremediable nature," Akhmetgaliyev said.
The judgment will be challenged at the Russian Supreme Court, Akhmetgaliyev said.
