(JTA)–Russia must pay $35,000 to a Jewish activist from Moscow who was imprisoned for demonstrating against the government, the European Court of Human Rights ordered.

Tuesday’s ruling by the court in Strasbourg, France, relates to the 2012 arrest of Evgeny Frumkin, 53, an organizer of many rallies critical of the government of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Frumkin, a founder of Russia’s pro-democracy movement during the last days of Communism, was arrested at a Moscow square during riots which erupted during a demonstration the day before Putin was inaugurated as president in May of that year. He was sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest for disobeying police orders.

European court, whose decisions are binding on 47 countries, including Russia, but rarely enforceable, found Frumkin’s arrest and imprisonment violated his right to personal integrity and the right to a fair trial as well as freedom of assembly, RIA Novosti reported.

Last month Russian lawmakers passed legislation saying rulings by local courts supersede those of international tribunals. Critics say the move effectively means Russia has nullified its signature to the European Convention on Human Rights, the treaty which forms the basis for the European court’s jurisdiction in Russia.

The legislation follows frequent rulings by the court against Russia, which critics claim has become less democratic under Putin.

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