Opposition politician files complaint with Russia’s Constitutional Court over discrimination against men in law on administrative arrest

Opposition politician Vladimir Milov has filed a complaint with Russia’s Constitutional Court over discrimination against men in Russian administrative law, reports Kommersant. 

Milov is demanding the Administrative Code exclude “all parents of children under the age of 14” from administrative arrest.

According to the current Administrative Code, article 3.9 prohibits placing women with children under the age of 14 under administrative arrest (as well as people with group I and II disabilities, servicemen and employees of the Constitutional Court, as well as police officers and Russian Guard officers in possession of special ranks).

According to Milov, this legislation contradicts three articles of the Russian Constitution (on the equality of men and women, on the equality of rights and responsibilities of parents, and on the right to respect for private life).

Kommersant adds that journalist and municipal deputy Ilya Azar was preparing a similar complaint to the Constitutional Court.

On July 27, 2019, Milov was arrested at the studio for opposition figure Alexey Navalny’s YouTube channel “Navalny LIVE,” where he was running a live stream of an opposition protest. Milov was sentenced to 30 days arrest for involvement in an unauthorized rally, even though he was actually at the demonstration. In court, his lawyer pointed out that Milov had to care for his two-year-old son. “But the court’s decision wasn’t affected in any way,” Kommersant writes.