The Russian organization “For Human Rights” issued a press release on its Web site claiming that “the political situation in Russia has developed to a point where the authorities make all major decisions in accordance with their political preferences rather than the Russian Constitution or legal code.”

The statement specifically notes that the Russian authorities have failed to comply with certain provisions of the Russian Correctional Code, according to which convicts must serve out their sentences in the regions of their permanent residences (or in the closest region possible).

“For Human Rights” accuses Russia of purposefully transferring convicts to the furthest possible region based on political motives. The list of prisoners who were transferred to remote prisons for political reasons includes Mikhail Khodorkovsky (transferred to the Chita region) and Platon Lebedev (transferred to Yamalo-Nenets region), among others.

Pointing at lack of efficient instruments in Russia for the protection of human rights, the group has requested that the European Commission “appeal to Russian political leaders and demand they change the vicious practice [of internal exile], thereby returning convicts to their regions of residence in compliance with article 73 of Russian Criminal Code.”