Moscow, Jan. 18 -- A Russian court has extended the house arrest of Anastasiya Shevchenko, a member of the Open Russia Civic Movement, alleging that she is involved in an "undesirable" organization, Human Rights Watch said today. The decision is consistent with Russian authorities' use of an abusive law on "undesirable organizations" to silence activists, with several other activists on trial or facing prosecution on similar accusations.
"That Anastasiya Shevchenko has been confined to her apartment for over a year is absurd," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "No one should spend even a minute in detention for what Open Russia activists are accused of, yet Russian authorities are using criminal ...