Brussels, 02/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 1 July, an EU spokesperson for foreign affairs deplored the decision of the Tambov regional court in Russia on 25 June to refuse the conditional release of environmental campaigner Yevgeniy Vitishko.
“The decision not to grant him parole, as in the case of his arrest before the Sochi Olympics and the charge brought against him during his trial, appears to have been taken with the aim of curtailing his freedom of expression”, the spokesperson said. Vitishko was sentenced to three years in prison and has already served half of this. “We consider that Mr Vitishko has already paid a disproportionate price for his alleged misdemeanour and look forward to his prompt release”, the European spokesperson added.
Vitishko took part in demonstrations about deforestation, and the construction and mounting of fences in protected areas in the region of Krasnodar. He was convicted for having “damaged a fence” on the site of the dacha of the former governor of the region. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)