Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that human rights defender, Mr Lev Ponomarev, was assaulted and beaten on 31 March 2009. Lev Ponomarev is Head of For Human Rights, an organisation that monitors and reports on human rights violations in the Russian Federation.

Further Information

On 31 March 2009, at approximately 11 p.m., Lev Ponomarev was assaulted and beaten by a group of unknown men who had been waiting for him near the entrance to the building where he lives in Moscow. He was taken to hospital N36 in Moscow. He has since been discharged and is currently at home. No investigation into the matter has yet been carried out.

Lev Ponomarev has previously been the victim of other forms of harassment. On 28 December 2008, he was followed on his way home. In September 2006, he was arrested and detained for organising a peaceful demonstration without official authorisation.

Front Line believes that the assault against Lev Ponomarev is directly related to his work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Lev Ponomarev.