From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 6/21/2007 10:11 PM Friday, June 22, 2007 Court Backs Police Raid on NGO The Moscow Times
A Moscow court ruled Thursday that Interior Ministry officers were justified in raiding the offices of the nongovernmental organization Educated Media Foundation and confiscating computers and documents, a lawyer for the NGO said.
The Golovinsky District Court said investigators were correct to confiscate the documents during the April raid because they had to find out why the NGO's head, Manana Aslamazian, was carrying 9,550 euros ($12,400) in undeclared currency when she arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport in January, Aslamazian's lawyer, Viktor Parshutkin, said. Any amount worth more than $10,000 must be declared. Parshutkin said he would appeal the ruling.
Aslamazian was charged with smuggling -- which carries a maximum five-year prison sentence -- on June 15, though Parshutkin said he has received no formal notification.
The Educated Media Foundation is a U.S.-funded NGO that trains journalists. It has all but shut down its operations in Russia, and Aslamazian said this week she would not return until the case is dropped.
Parshutkin called the smuggling charge "rubbish," and Aslamazian has said it is linked to tightening state control over NGO activities in the country.
Acknowledgement: All available information and documents in "Justice For North Caucasus Group" is provided for the "fair use". There should be no intention for ill-usage of any sort of any published item for commercial purposes and in any way or form. JFNC is a nonprofit group and has no intentions for the distribution of information for commercial or advantageous gain. At the same time consideration is ascertained that all different visions, beliefs, presentations and opinions will be presented to visitors and readers of all message boards of this site. Providing, furnishing, posting and publishing the information of all sources is considered a right to freedom of opinion, speech, expression, and information while at the same time does not necessarily reflect, represent, constitute, or comprise the stand or the opinion of this group. If you have any concerns contact us directly at:
eagle@JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com