MOSCOW, May 30 (RAPSI) – The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) awarding €5,000 in compensation to opposition politician and former world chess champion Garry Kasparov for violation of his rights during a 2007 anti-government rally in Moscow, has become effective, according to the court’s press release issued on Tuesday.

Russia’s request to refer the case to the court’s Grand Chamber for review was dismissed.

In December 2016, the ECHR held that rights of Garry Kasparov, the Russian opposition politician and former world chess champion, had been violated during a 2007 anti-government rally in Moscow.

The ECHR ordered Russia to pay Kasparov another applicant Alexander Averin 5,000 euros in compensation for non-pecuniary damage and 3,000 euros in respect of costs and expenses. Another applicant Alexander Averin was to receive 5,000 euros as well.

Kasparov was arrested on November 24, 2007 together with six other political activists at the demonstration and brought to the police station. He was charged with a breach of the regulations on holding demonstrations and disobeying police orders. He was later found guilty of both charges. A court ruled that Kasparov marched among some 1,500 people in what had constituted an unauthorized demonstration.

Kasparov denied that there was an organized demonstration or that he called out to anyone to follow him. Nevertheless, he was sentenced to five days’ administrative detention.

Kasparov lodged a complaint with the ECHR along with six other political activists, including Lev Ponomaryov.

The ECHR ruled that there was a violation of article 11 (Freedom of assembly and association) and article 6 (Right to a fair trial) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as regards two the applicants.

Complaints of other activists were deemed inadmissible.