MOSCOW, January 14 (Itar-Tass) — The Justice Ministry has denied registration to the Pirate Party of Russia, its staff chairman Pavel Rassudov said on Monday, January 14.
“We have been denied registration on absolutely absurd grounds. They said that the name of the party does not correspond to its goals and objectives. The ministry officials said that piracy means sea robbery or production of counterfeit goods, while the party’s goals and objectives are to protect the rights and legitimate interests of Internet users and nomination of a presidential candidate by secret ballot,” Rassudov said.
The ministry also claimed that two party members of 700 are minors. “At the time when the list was drawn up they were minors. But what difference does it make if there are 700 people on the list?” he retorted.
“Now we intend to file a lawsuit,” he added.
The Pirate Party of Russia was created in 2009 at one of the Internet forums. It calls for decriminalising file exchanges among users, reforming the copyright and patent law, and introducing “direct electronic democracy” in the country.
The party programme also includes provisions concerning the openness of government databases (except for personal data) and right to privacy “on the Internet and the computer”.
Its members also believe that video cameras installed in the city should not be linked into one network because this will violate the rights of people.
The party was once denied registration but made a new, now abortive, attempt after liberalisation of legislation.