In its observations, the Government submitted that no violations of Nikitin’s rights under Article 6 (1) and 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights, or of his rights under Article 4 (1) and (2) of its Protocol No. 7 had taken place. Thus, according to the Government, his application should be rejected as ill-founded.

The arguments used by the Government to substantiate this point of view, is however rejected as utterly untenable by Nikitin’s attorney in a reply to the Government’s observation that was sent today.

The pleas that Nikitin’s rights under Article 6 (1) and 13 of the Convention, because the criminal case against him was not determined within a reasonable time and that he did not get any effective remedy against this violation of his rights are thus, maintained.

It is also maintained that Nikitin’s rights under Article 4 (1) and (2) of Protocol 7 to the Convention was violated, as the Russian Government tried to prosecute him twice for a crime that he had been acquitted of.

The full text of the reply to the Goverment’s observation can be read by using the link below.