THIRD SECTION
CASE OF SKOROBOGATOV AND OTHERS v. RUSSIA
(Applications nos. 46218/21 and 21 others –
see appended list)
JUDGMENT
STRASBOURG
16 October 2025
This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.
In the case of Skorobogatov and Others v. Russia,
The European Court of Human Rights (Third Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:
Diana Kovatcheva, President,
Canòlic Mingorance Cairat,
Vasilka Sancin, judges,
and Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 25 September 2025,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:
PROCEDURE
1. The case originated in applications against Russia lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) on the various dates indicated in the appended table.
2. The Russian Government (“the Government”) were given notice of the applications.
THE FACTS
3. The list of applicants and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.
4. The applicants complained of the disproportionate measures taken against them as organisers or participants of public assemblies, notably in connection with their participation in various public events in breach of COVID-19-related restrictions. They also raised other complaints under the provisions of the Convention.
THE LAW
JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS5. Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single judgment.
JURISDICTION6. The Court observes that the facts giving rise to the alleged violations of the Convention occurred prior to 16 September 2022, the date on which the Russian Federation ceased to be a party to the Convention. The Court therefore decides that it has jurisdiction to examine the present applications (see Fedotova and Others v. Russia [GC], nos. 40792/10 and 2 others, §§ 68‑73, 17 January 2023).
ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 11 OF THE CONVENTION7. The applicants complained principally of disproportionate measures taken against them as organisers or participants of public assemblies in connection with their participation in various public events in breach of COVID-19-related restrictions, namely their arrest in relation to the dispersal of these assemblies and their conviction for administrative offences. They relied, expressly or in substance, on Article 11 of the Convention.
8. The Court refers to the principles established in its case-law regarding freedom of assembly (see Kudrevičius and Others v. Lithuania [GC], no. 37553/05, ECHR 2015, with further references) and proportionality of interference with it (see Oya Ataman v. Turkey, no. 74552/01, ECHR 2006‑XIV, and Hyde Park and Others v. Moldova, no. 33482/06, 31 March 2009). It further refers to Nemytov and Others v. Russia, no. 1257/21 and 2 others, 27 May 2025, in so far as the application by the authorities of the COVID-19-related restrictions to assemblies are concerned.
9. In the leading cases of Nemytov and Others, cited above, Frumkin v. Russia, no. 74568/12, ECHR 2016 (extracts), Navalnyy and Yashin v. Russia, no. 76204/11, 4 December 2014, and Kasparov and Others v. Russia, no. 21613/07, 3 October 2013, the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.
10. Having examined all the material submitted to it, the Court has not found any fact or argument capable of persuading it to reach a different conclusion as to the admissibility and merits of these complaints. Having regard to its case-law on the subject, the Court considers that in the instant case the interferences with the applicants’ freedom of assembly were not “necessary in a democratic society”.
11. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 11 of the Convention.
OTHER ALLEGED VIOLATIONS UNDER WELL-ESTABLISHED CASE-LAW12. Some applicants submitted other complaints which also raised issues under the Convention and its Protocols, given the relevant well-established case-law of the Court (see appended table). These complaints are not manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 35 § 3 (a) of the Convention, nor are they inadmissible on any other ground. Accordingly, they must be declared admissible.
13. Having examined all the material before it, the Court concludes that these complaints also disclose violations of the Convention and its Protocols in the light of its findings in Nemytov and Others, cited above, § 166, with further references.
REMAINING COMPLAINTS14. Some applicants raised further additional complaints under Article 6 of the Convention concerning other aspects of fairness of the administrative‑offence proceedings. In view of the findings in paragraphs 11 and 13 above, the Court considers that there is no need to deal separately with these remaining complaints.
APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION
15. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case‑law (see in particular Navalnyy and Others v. Russia [Committee], nos. 25809/17 and 14 others, § 22, 4 October 2022), the Court finds it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT, UNANIMOUSLY,
Decides to join the applications;Holds that it has jurisdiction to deal with these applications as they relate to facts that took place before 16 September 2022;Declares the complaints under Article 11 of the Convention and the other complaints under the well-established case-law of the Court, as set out in the appended table, admissible, and finds that there is no need to examine separately the remaining complaints under Article 6 of the Convention;Holds that these applications disclose a breach of Article 11 of the Convention;Holds that there has been a violation of the Convention, and the Protocols thereto as regards the other complaints raised under the well-established case-law of the Court (see appended table);Holds(a) that the respondent State is to pay the applicants, within three months, the amounts indicated in the appended table, to be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable at the date of settlement;
(b) that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amounts at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points.
Done in English, and notified in writing on 16 October 2025, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.
Viktoriya Maradudina Diana Kovatcheva
Acting Deputy Registrar President
APPENDIX
List of applications raising complaints under Article 11 of the Convention
(disproportionate measures against organisers and participants of public assemblies)
No.
Application no.
Date of introduction
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Representative’s name and location
Name of the public event
Location
Date
Administrative / criminal offence
Penalty
Final domestic decision
Court Name
Date
Other complaints under well-established case-law
Amount awarded for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs and expenses per applicant
(in euros)[1]
46218/21
02/09/2021
Aleksey Aleksandrovich SKOROBOGATOV
1987
Peredruk Aleksandr Dmitriyevich
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 15,000
St Petersburg City Court
15/04/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 8.30 p.m. on 31/01/2021 until 4 a.m. on 01/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings
4,000
46224/21
02/09/2021
Nikolay Aleksandrovich KANTS
1991
Peredruk Aleksandr Dmitriyevich
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
27/04/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 10.30 p.m. on 02/02/2021 until 4.45 a.m. on 03/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings
4,000
46225/21
02/09/2021
Alina Rustemovna TAGIROVA
1998
Peredruk Aleksandr Dmitriyevich
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 10 days
St Petersburg City Court
16/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 4.30 p.m. on 31/01/2021 until 7.45 p.m. on 01/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - the sentence of administrative detention imposed on the applicant was executed immediately, on account of the lack of suspensive effect of an appeal under the CAO.
5,000
46520/21
03/09/2021
Liliya Ivanovna SEMENTSOVA
1999
Karagodina Veronika Yuryevna
St Petersburg
Rally “Free Navalnyy”
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
09/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from11.55 p.m. on 02/02/2021 until 11.40 a.m. on 03/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings
4,000
46794/21
30/08/2021
Aleksandr Sergeyevich ULANOV
1999
Magomedova Luiza Magomedovna
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
02/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 3.57 a.m. until 11.20 a.m. on 03/02/3021
4,000
46799/21
30/08/2021
Nikita Dmitriyevich SHLEYNING
1996
Magomedova Luiza Magomedovna
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
02/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 4.34 a.m. until 11.20 a.m. on 03/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.
4,000
48108/21
09/09/2021
Denis Andreyevich PUGACHEV
1996
Memorial Human Rights Centre
Moscow
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
09/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 11.05 p.m. on 02/02/2021 until 1 p.m. on 04/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings
4,000
49386/21
27/09/2021
Yevgeniy Yuryevich RODIONOV
1987
Loktev Sergey Aleksandrovich
St Petersburg
Rally “Free Navalnyy”
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
30/03/2021
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings
3,500
49766/21
22/09/2021
Darya Antonovna ZUBKOVA
1999
Memorial Human Rights Centre
Moscow
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 9 days
St Petersburg City Court
25/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 3.40 p.m. on 31/01/2021 until 10.30 a.m. on 01/02/2021,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - the sentence of administrative detention imposed on the applicant was executed immediately, on account of the lack of suspensive effect of an appeal under the CAO.
5,000
49829/21
18/09/2021
Mariya Vladimirovna PYANKOVA
2001
Mikhaylova Varvara Dmitriyevna
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
18/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to the police station on 31/01/2021 for compiling an offence report,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.
4,000
50710/21
22/09/2021
Kseniya Aleksandrovna VARLAMOVA
1993
Semenov Daniil Aleksandrovich
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 10 days
St Petersburg City Court
21/03/2021, the decision was served on the applicant on a later date
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 4.30 p.m. on 31/01/2021 until 10 a.m. on 02/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - the sentence of administrative detention imposed on the applicant was executed immediately, on account of the lack of suspensive effect of an appeal under the CAO.
5,000
50720/21
22/09/2021
Gleb Olegovich SERGEYEV
1997
Zyryanova Mariya Sergeyevna
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 10 days
St Peterburg City Court
23/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to the police station on 31/01/2021 for compiling an offence report,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - the sentence of administrative detention imposed on the applicant was executed immediately, on account of the lack of suspensive effect of an appeal under the CAO.
5,000
50724/21
22/09/2021
Vsevolod Mikhaylovich MOSKALEV
1996
Zyryanova Mariya Sergeyevna
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 10 days
St Petersburg City Court
23/09/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to at the police station for compiling an offence report on 31/01/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - the sentence of administrative detention imposed on the applicant was executed immediately, on account of the lack of suspensive effect of an appeal under the CAO.
5,000
55737/21
29/10/2021
Vladimir Vladimirovich NECHAYEV
2002
Memorial Human Rights Centre
Moscow
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
21/04/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 10 days
St Petersburg City Court
29/04/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 8.30 p.m. on 21/04/2021 until 3.30 p.m. on 22/04/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - the sentence of administrative detention imposed on the applicant was executed immediately, on account of the lack of suspensive effect of an appeal under the CAO.
5,000
56511/21
27/10/2021
Yekaterina Sergeyevna PAVLOVA
1990
MOO MEMORIAL Human Rights Centre
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
03/06/2021
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 00.02 a.m. until 6.05 p.m. on 03/02/2021.
4,000
57026/21
10/11/2021
Andrey Vladimirovich KONONOV
Memorial Human Rights Centre
Moscow
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 3 days
St Petersburg City Court
20/05/2021
Art. 5 (1) – unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 1 p.m. on 31/10/2021 until 12 p.m. on 01/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.
5,000
57400/21
27/10/2021
Yekaterina Sergeyevna KUPRIYANOVA
1988
Karagodina Veronika Yuryevna
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
20/05/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to the police station on 31/01/2021 for compiling an offence report,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings
4,000
57851/21
11/11/2021
Anna Nikitichna PUSHKINA
1998
Memorial Human Rights Centre
Moscow
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 5 days
St Petersburg City Court
13/05/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 00.30 a.m. until 6.30 p.m. on 03/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings
5,000
58666/21
18/11/2021
Aleksandra Dmitriyevna ANIKEYEVA
2000
Semenov Daniil Aleksandrovich
St Petersburg
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
31/01/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 5 days
St Petersburg City Court
20/05/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to the police station on 31/01/2021 for compiling an offence report,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - the sentence of administrative detention imposed on the applicant was executed immediately, on account of the lack of suspensive effect of an appeal under the CAO.
5,000
24854/22
06/08/2021
Dmitriy Yuryevich PAVLOV
1998
Memorial Human Rights Centre
Moscow
Rally "Free Navalnyy"
St Petersburg
02/02/2021
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
detention for 3 days
St Petersburg City Court
25/03/2021
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to and detention at the police station after compiling an offence report from 00.30 a.m. until 5.55 p.m. on 03/02/2021,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceeding
5,000
40715/22
11/08/2022
Mariya Yevgenyevna KRASHENNIKOVA
1999
Shiolashvili Mikhail Germanovich
St Petersburg
Anti-war protest (against war in Ukraine)
St Petersburg
06/03/2022
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 10,000
St Petersburg City Court
12/04/2022
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to the police station on 06/03/2022 for compiling an offence report.
4,000
45934/22
01/09/2022
Yelena Aleksandrovna ARSENYEVA
1988
Loktev Sergey Aleksandrovich
St Petersburg
Anti-war protest (against war in Ukraine)
St Petersburg
13/03/2022
article 20.2 § 2 of CAO
fine of RUB 20,000
St Petersburg City Court
24/05/2022
Art. 5 (1) - unlawful detention - escorting to the police station on 13/03/2022 for compiling an offence report,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings
4,000
[1] Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.