MOSCOW, February 27 - RAPSI. The European Court of Human Rights took cognizance of the appeal by renowned whistleblower Alexey Navalny and opposition leader Ilya Yashin, thus having posed questions to Russian authorities on the circumstances of their arrest, the court reported on its website.

Navalny and Yashin were detained on December 5 after an unauthorized rally in Moscow held in protest against the outcome of the State Duma elections won by United Russia party. Both were sentenced to 15 days in jail for disobeying the police.

Their application to Strasbourg was found acceptable in mid-December 2011. Defense attorney Olga Mikhaylova earlier told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) that pursuant to the application, Article 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was violated during their arrest.

According to the police, 300 people were detained in Moscow for unauthorized rally on December 5. The arrests began after the rally participants of an authorized opposition meeting arranged started a procession toward Lubyanka Square. The meeting was held on the backdrop of the State Duma elections.