Russia's Constitutional Court has dismissed a landmark ruling by
the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to pay 1.8 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in
compensation to the former shareholders of defunct Russian oil
company Yukos.
The Russian court ruled that the ECHR decision violated Russia's constitution and that the Kremlin did not need to honor the pay-out.
The ECHR ruled in favor of former Yukos shareholders in 2014. They claimed that the Kremlin had unfairly brought charges of retroactive tax violations against the company as a means of weakening former Yukos chief and outspoken Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The charges led to the company's collapse in 2007.
Under Russian law adopted in 2015, the country's Constitutional Court has the right to dismiss international court rulings if they are found to be at odds with the Russian constitution.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
