The Russian authorities must halt police mistreatment of election protesters, journalists and detainees, said Amnesty International today, ahead of further planned opposition demonstrations in the country.

More than 1,000 people, including journalists, have reportedly been detained in Russia following demonstrations against the manipulation of votes during Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Figures vary, but possibly more than 100 remain in detention, though many have been released pending court hearings. 

Amnesty has received numerous reports of mistreatment of detainees, beatings of peaceful protesters by the police, denial of medical treatment, and closed court hearings. As more demonstrations are planned, the organisation is calling on the Russian authorities to rein in the police and respect the right to peaceful protest.

Several cases of assaults by police on clearly identified journalists include that of Aleksandr Chernikh of the daily newspaper Kommersant, who has described being thrown to the ground by police in Moscow, jumped upon and kicked repeatedly on 4 December, after showing his press pass. Meanwhile St Petersburg opposition member Olga Kurnosova was taken to hospital after being detained by police on 4 December.
 
Amnesty International Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director John Dalhuisen said:

“The scale of arrests has not been in any way justified. We fear that the Russian police are simply quashing opposition protest, no matter how peaceful.

“Peaceful spontaneous protests in response to significant political developments are clearly covered by international human rights law. The protests we have seen across Russia in the last few days fall under this protection.
 
“Opposition protesters have been detained simply for shouting ‘Freedom’ or ‘We need another Russia’ and now many detainees are being denied basic standards of treatment for anyone held in detention.

“These detainees are prisoners of conscience and must be released immediately.

“We would also question why opposition protesters are being arrested in large numbers while pro-government supporters assembled in the same locations have been untouched.”

Numerous friends and relatives of some of the detainees have contacted Amnesty to report alleged mistreatment, including that their loved ones are being denied food by the police, and that food being brought by relatives is not being passed on.  According to some sources, about 100 people have already been sentenced, some to administrative detention. Others have been fined. 

The authorities have imposed restrictions such as closing hearings to the public in at least one Moscow court. Amnesty sought an explanation for this suspension of fair trial standards, and was told by the court’s representative that “I think this is a measure to guarantee the normal functioning of the court.”