DETAINED YABLOKO LEADER'S CASE RAISED

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000665 SIPDIS SENSATIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM PINR RS SUBJECT: DETAINED YABLOKO LEADER'S CASE RAISED REF: ST PETERSBURG 39 ¶1. (SBU) On March 7, we raised our strong concern over the detention of St. Petersburg Yabloko leader Maksim Reznik with the Ombudsman's office and the Presidential Council on Human Rights. Ombudsman Secretariat Chief Natalia Mirza noted that she had yet to see the open letter sent to HR Ombudsman Lukin by prominent human rights activists, but that the office would take up Reznik's case if petitioned by Reznik's family, lawyer, or party. (Note: As a founder of Yabloko, HR Ombudsman Lukin will be disposed to resolving Reznik's case, but equally alive to the need to operate within his legal guidelines.) Presidential Council Deputy William Smirnov told us that the Commission was aware of Reznik's case and was currently "considering" it. ¶2. (SBU) In a separate conversation, Moscow Helsinki Chairperson Ludmilla Alekseeva stressed that Reznick's detention was political and clearly an "ordered affair," but said she could not speculate on whether this was an instance of local zealousness or federal direction. Alekseeva led the list of approximately 30 human rights and political activists, who signed an open letter to General Procurator Chaika and HR Ombudsman Lukin, urging Rezniki's immediate release and rejecting the charges as fabricated. The signators termed the detention a gross violation of the criminal code. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Reznik's treatment has generated a strong public reaction here, as evidenced by the open letter. We will continue to raise our concerns with GOR officials, and urge that Washington doubletrack with the Russian Embassy. At this stage, we do not believe that a public statement will further Reznik's cause. The GOR will face additional scrutiny over the election and its aftermath when it greets Chancellor Merkel on March 8. RUSSELL