On September 14, 2023 the European Court for Human Rights ordered the Russian government to pay Azat Miftakhov 26,000 Euro as compensation for the torture to which Azat was subjected by the Russian police after his initial arrest in February 2019. Azat has been continuously imprisoned since that arrest. In January 2021 he was convicted of “hooliganism” in the infamous “broken window” case, related to a protest at a United Russia party office, and sentenced to six imprisonment years in a penal colony. Although Azat was released on parole from the Omutninsk colony on September 4, 2023, he was immediately re-arrested by the FSB on a new fabricated charge of “justifying terrorism”.
We welcome the finding of he European Court for Human Rights holding Russia responsible for torturing Azat while in prison.
Unfortunately, although not unexpectedly, on September 15, the Kirov Oblast’ Court denied Azat’s appeal against his arrest and continued detention in the new “justifying terrorism” criminal case. The travesty and the tragedy of political persecution against Azat needs to end. The new made up charges against him need to be dropped. Azat needs to be immediately released. He has suffered more than enough and he deserves to be able to resume his mathematical studies and research.
The Azat Miftakhov Committee
The case of Azat Miftakhov 