Compulsory work for formal violations at rallies can be regarded as "means of cracking down on dissent" - Constitutional Court
ST. PETERSBURG. Feb 14 (Interfax) - The Russian Constitutional Court has ruled that people cannot be punished with compulsory work for violations at rallies no leading to health or property damage.
"The court ruling, which was read on Thursday, says that compulsory work given as punishment for formal violations can be regarded as "a method for cracking down on dissent."
The court, however, found that this type of punishment can be given for serious violations.
The Constitutional Court said Russia has signed international treaties prohibiting countries to force citizens to perform compulsory work for political views.
The court ruling says that people who "have committed violations of the procedures governing the organization of rallies and the number of rally participants" should not be sentenced to compulsory work.
The court ruled that compulsory work can be given as punishment "for administrative violations leading to grave consequences."
