Russia on Sunday released a prominent opposition activist from jail, after a court quashed a sentence that made him the only person convicted under a tough law against public protests.<\/p>\n
Ildar Dadin, 34, emerged from a Siberian penal colony after some 15 months behind bars for repeatedly holding unsanctioned rallies against President Vladimir Putin\u2019s rule.<\/p>\n
Dadin \u2014 who was declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International \u2014 has complained of torture and abuse behind bars, and his case became a cause celebre for those who oppose the Kremlin.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will continue to fight against Putin\u2019s fascist regime,\u201d Dadin said in footage broadcast online by the independent Dozhd channel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will fight so that human rights are respected in Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned Dadin\u2019s December 2015 imprisonment and ordered he be freed.<\/p>\n
He was originally sentenced to three years in jail, but that sentence was reduced and he currently had some six months left to run.<\/p>\n
Dadin\u2019s case was controversial as it was the first time a protester was prosecuted under 2014 legislation that ratcheted up punishment to a maximum of five years in jail for anyone caught holding unsanctioned demonstrations more than twice in six months.<\/p>\n
The statute \u2014 known as Article 212.1 \u2014 was seen as part of the Kremlin\u2019s attempt to curb dissent following mass protests against Putin in 2011-2012 and demonstrations in Kiev that ousted Ukraine\u2019s Russian-backed leader in 2014.<\/p>\n
The legislative changes have helped snuff out almost all protests against Putin, a former KGB officer, in Russia.<\/p>\n
The decision to release Dadin came after the constitutional court criticised the harsh punishments against peaceful protestors \u2014 sparking hope among rights groups that authorities will no longer enforce the tough sanctions.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: Capitalfm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Russia on Sunday released a prominent opposition activist from jail, after a court quashed a sentence that made him the only person convicted under a tough law against public protests. Ildar Dadin, 34, emerged from a Siberian penal colony after some 15 months behind bars for repeatedly holding unsanctioned rallies against President Vladimir Putin\u2019s rule. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[910],"yoast_head":"\n