Putin’s decree to classify military losses appealed to the Supreme Court – RBC

A group of lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court of the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree to classify military casualties in peacetime. The intention to appeal to the court earlier said the lawyer, Ivan Pavlov, head of the Foundation “Freedom of information».

«We believe that the president had no right to classify this category of information is simply beyond the scope of his authority,” – said Tuesday, Interfax lawyer Pavlov.

According to Pavlov, expand the list of information constituting a state secret, can only federal law. He explained that the competence of the President is the appointment of federal officials, who have the right to classify information within a particular category of information defined as secret by law “On the State Secret”. In addition, according to the applicants, is contrary to the position of Putin’s decree law that prohibits classify information on emergencies.

On whether the Supreme Court to hear the case or not will be known within eight days: the court has three days for the registration application and another five to schedule a meeting or to come up with a reason for the refusal to consider the case, told RBC rights activist Ivan Pavlov. If it is decided that the case will be considered, it must take place within three months, he says. The result of the proceedings Pavlov not undertake to predict. However, he said, “if you look at the statistics, the Supreme Court takes a majority decision in favor of the authority, whose legal act is challenged, and by presidential decree absolute majority of decisions in favor of the president».

If The Supreme Court will not consider an appeal, or make a decision in favor of the government, the human rights activist is ready to examine the possibility of recourse to international courts.

Among the signatories of the appeal no representatives of Soldiers’ Mothers. Pavlov said that the proposal to support the appeal was sent to many, it was a public call, but now is not too late to join, send a similar treatment.

Human rights activists expressed concern that relatives of the dead men can not even tell the relatives of their deaths and journalists will not be possible to conduct investigations of possible losses.

In June, the British television channel Sky News output moved scene of the death of Russian special forces due to Putin’s decree. This was told RBC two source close to the film crew, was preparing a plot. Later, the story still has been published.

Among the applicants who challenge the decree to classify data on losses in times of peace, in addition to the lawyer Pavlova has Pasko and Timur Olevskii and Pskov MP Leo Schlossberg (he reported of Pskov paratroopers killed), “Vedomosti” writes. They believe that the decree violates the constitutional right of citizens to seek and disseminate information.

Earlier, Pavlov said that the purpose of signing the decree to hide casualties during the raid on the territory of Ukraine.

Press Secretary President, Dmitry Peskov, said that the signing of the decree has nothing to do with the events in the east of Ukraine.

Putin took information about the killed soldiers in peacetime to state secret at the end of May. The decree covers data on the losses of personnel the Defense Ministry “in peacetime, during special operations” to the media and family.