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Russian Activist Calls for Sanctions Against Putin, Russian Officials

18 January 2011 01:44 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. A Russian opposition leader recently freed after 15 days in jail has called for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to be investigated, stripped of his power, and subject to travel bans from the West, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.
Boris Nemtsov spoke to reporters Monday after a jail stint for what he called fabricated charges of failing to follow a police order at a political rally December 31.
He called on other countries to refuse to grant visas to top Russian officials and their relatives as a way to encourage more respect for freedom and civil rights in the country.
Nemtsov said Russian authorities are becoming more and more like Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, whose government brutally put down a protest rally after presidential elections in December and detained a number of political opponents and pro-democracy activists.
Nemtsov’s arrest, at a sanctioned gathering of opposition supporters, drew international criticism. The regular gatherings are designed to recognize a constitutional provision allowing freedom of assembly.
Last week, Nemtsov’s attorney filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights in connection with his arrest and imprisonment.