Philipp Kostenko

On 3 February 2012, human rights defender Mr Philipp Kostenko was attacked and badly beaten by two unidentified individuals in Saint Petersburg.

Philipp Kostenko is a member of the Anti-Discrimination Centre 'Memorial' (ADC 'Memorial'), which fights against racism and all forms of discrimination and conducts several projects to defend the rights of Russia's Roma population. Philipp Kostenko is also an active participant in the anti-fascist and anarchist movement in Saint Petersburg.

On 3 February 2012, Philipp Kostenko was approached by two unknown men who asked him his name while he was passing through a deserted park. After he had identified himself, they kicked him to the ground and started beating him. The assailants did not attempt to take his money or personal belongings. As a result of the beating, Philipp Kostenko was diagnosed with concussion, and suffered a knee injury. He has been admitted to hospital for two weeks.

Immediately after the beating, Philipp Kostenko received an email to his personal account saying “well, does your leg hurt?” The message was allegedly sent from the address of Vassily Trifan, an officer at the Centre of Countering Extremism of Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region. In 2010, Philipp Kostenko had received threats from Vassily Trifan following a search of the human rights defender's apartment.

The beating took place one day before peaceful protest demonstrations were planned to take place all over the Russian Federation. Front Line Defenders believes that the attack was an attempt to prevent Philipp Kostenko from taking part in the demonstration, as he has been an active participant in protest actions in Saint Petersburg. It is the second attack against him in recent weeks. In the morning of 31 January 2012, he was beaten up by four unknown people who also took his picture.

The police have reportedly refused to open a criminal investigation into the attack. On 4 February 2012, the website of the Head Department of Police announced that the refusal was under consideration due to the fact that Philipp Kostenko had allegedly signed a document renouncing his right to lodge a complaint and refusing medical treatment. However, in a statement published on 6 February 2012, ADC 'Memorial' contradicts this information and states that the ambulance arrived at the scene of the attack before the police, and that the police officers tried in vain to force Philipp Kostenko to sign the document before he was brought to the hospital. In violation of legal procedure, representatives of the investigations department have not visited Philipp Kostenko in hospital nor have they interrogated him.

Front Line Defenders believes that the brutal attack and beating of Philipp Kostenko are directly related to his human rights work, and were aimed at preventing him from further human rights activity, including his participation in the peaceful demonstration of 4 February 2012. Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Philipp Kostenko.