MOSCOW, April 27 (RAPSI) - Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova has called the international community and ombudsmen to protect the rights of activist Alexander Gaponenko, who was arrested and detained in Latvia on suspicion of anti-state activities, the ombudsman’s website reads.

Moskalkova in particular asked her colleagues to call Latvian authorities to dismiss criminal proceedings against “renowned public man” Gaponenko, the statement reads.

According to the Russian ombudsman, the leader of the Center for the Protection of Russian Schools was arrested and placed in detention for his publications on Facebook. Gaponenko’s detention discords with basic principles of democracy, infringes rights of national minorities in Latvia including the right to freedom of expression and information distribution.

Gaponenko was arrested on April 20. A court in Riga detained him on suspicion of illegal activity against the state on April 21, according to media reports. Gaponenko believes that his arrest is connected with his human rights activity and posts on social media. The activist complained of inhuman treatment and went on hunger strike, he told journalists.