1. During the Committee of Ministers’ consideration
of the above questions, the Estonian delegation indicated that Mr
Zarenkov had been arrested on suspicion of corruption in the discharge
of his duties at the Maardu Culture Centre, and on no account for
his political or civic activities, and that his detention on remand was
ordered on the ground that there was a risk of interference with
the course of justice. In addition, the Estonian delegation informed
the Committee that the court which had heard the case had decided
to place Mr Zarenkov in detention for up to six months, this decision
being subject to regular review. The Estonian delegation also pointed
out that Mr Zarenkov had not submitted a request to be released
on bail or to be given an alternative measure to imprisonment. Since
then, the Estonian delegation has indicated that Mr Zarenkov was
released from pre-trial detention on 11 March 2014, the court having
considered, in view of the evidence gathered, that there was no
longer a risk of interference with the ongoing judicial proceedings.
2. The Committee of Ministers underlines that it is not its role
to take a position on ongoing judicial proceedings in a member State,
while pointing out the fundamental importance of the right to freedom
and security and the right to a fair trial, in accordance with Articles
5 and 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It also points
out that anyone falling within the jurisdiction of a member State
may, as a last resort and after exhaustion of all domestic remedies,
apply to the European Court of Human Rights if he or she believes himself
or herself to be a victim of a violation of those rights.
