MOSCOW, July 6 (RAPSI) – Lawmaking and law enforcement officials must comply in their work with Russia’s obligatory international commitments, reads a ruling by the Constitutional Court that was posted on its website on Monday.

The ruling was made in a complaint filed by Denis Matveyev against the violation of his constitutional rights.

Matveyev created the public human rights association Smersh in 2008, which has held several high-profile events.

On July 16, 2009, Matveyev was arrested for attempted sale of drugs during an evidentiary purchase. In March 2010, he was sentenced to seven years in prison. The sentence was later reduced by one year.

Matveyev’s defense attorneys have filed complaints with several international organizations, including the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at the UN Human Rights Council, which said in its opinion dated May 2, 2013 that “the alleged violations of the right to a fair trial were of such gravity as to render  Matveyev’s detention arbitrary.”

Matveyev’s attorney subsequently filed an appeal with Russia’s Supreme Court to review the case in accordance with the Working Group’s recommendations. The Supreme Court refused to do so.

The Constitutional Court said in its ruling that investigators must honor their voluntary international obligations.

The opinions of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention are not binding, but this does not mean they can be ignored, the judges said. If the reported violations have been confirmed and their rectification appears impossible without reviewing a relevant court decision, the prosecutor concerned must submit a corresponding request. If the prosecutor’s office refuses to do so, its decision can be appealed in court.