Russian rights activist, 77, freed from jail
A 77-year-old Russian rights activist was freed yesterday after spending over two weeks in jail for calling for a protest, vowing to continue his campaigning.
Lev Ponomaryov was sentenced to 25 days after writing an appeal on his Facebook page for people to take part in an unsanctioned rally in Moscow. The term was later reduced to 16 days.
The head of the "For Human Rights" organisation, a former lawmaker and one of the most respected rights activists in the country, told AFP he was at his home after being released by officers yesterday morning.
"Of course I am not going to give up my work, I will be involved with protests," he said in a telephone conversation.
Ponomaryov said he was feeling well but found it difficult to be away from his activism while in detention.
The veteran campaigner had asked to be released to attend the funeral of human rights icon Lyudmila Alexeyeva last week, but his appeal was rejected.
"I deeply regret this but I understand perfectly well why I wasn't allowed," he said of the service, which was attended by President Vladimir Putin.
"Authorities did what they had to, to ensure I was not in the same photograph as Putin."
The president had personally defended the jailing of the elderly activist on Thursday, stressing the need to avoid "emergency situations" as seen in France during the "yellow vest" protests.
Ponomaryov's organisation earlier described his arrest as illegal and said it was linked to his campaign against the country's security services.
The Russian parliament this week signed off on a bill that would allow officials to fine protest organisers if young people take part in their demonstrations.
Activists have complained of increasing pressure on Russian youth over the last year.
Authorities have charged young people with "extremism" for sharing humorous memes online and have cancelled rap concerts, in a move some have compared to the Soviet blacklisting of rock musicians.
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