Jean-Claude Mignon, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), today voiced his concern at the two-year prison sentence handed down in Russia to three activists of the ‘Pussy Riot’ group.
“In a democracy, the right to freedom of expression may be subject to conditions intended inter alia to protect morals and the rights of others. However, the penalties imposed must be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence. Bearing in mind the standards of the Council of Europe, a two-year prison sentence for the alleged acts is patently disproportionate,” the President said.
“I hope that the Russian courts will review this conviction, in accordance with the procedures provided for by Russian legislation, taking full account of our standards in this field, such as those set forth in the European Convention on Human Rights and the Court’s case law,” he added.