Russia: Persecution of `Undesirable´ Activists
(World News Russia)

(Moscow) - 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,...