Russia's Pirate Party denied registration as piracy is criminal, not mentioned in party charter

MOSCOW. Jan 14 (Interfax) - The Justice Ministry has denied registration to the Pirate Party of Russia under the pretext that piracy is a criminal offense and does not meet the goals declared by the party.

"President Medvedev announced political liberalization a year ago. Alas, it did not apply to us. We have to state the absence of both online and general democracy in Russia. So, the Justice Ministry has denied us registration," a Pirate Party representative told Interfax on Monday.

He said the decision was politically motivated. "As soon as we receive an official answer mailed by Russian Post, we will lodge an appeal with a court," the activist said.

The denial was explained with the use of the word "pirate": piracy is a criminal offense, which does not meet the party's tasks and goals, he said.

Sweden's Rick Falkvinge, the founding father of the "pirate" movement and the world's first Pirate Party, has called the decision absurd.

He said the goals and tasks of the Pirate Party had long been known to the general public and even an Italian court had solved the issue lately. The very comparison of the movement for freedom and civil rights with sea assaults is either absurdity or maliciously intentional misinterpretation of events, the party quoted Falkvinge.

Chairman of the Pirate Party of Russia Pavel Rassudov believes that similar claims could be made to United Russia and Yabloko parties.

"Sure, we laughed ourselves sick when we learned the formal answer that our name failed to meet the party's goals and tasks. In that case, it is necessary to verify the United Russia name for compliance with the party charter, which does not mention unity, and the name of the Yabloko party the chapter of which does not say a word about fruit, and some other registered parties," Rassudov told Interfax.

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