Russian court orders shutdown of renowned human rights group

Police detain a demonstrator in front of the Supreme Court in Moscow (AP)

Russia’s highest court has shut down one of the country’s oldest and most prominent human rights organisations, the latest move in a relentless crackdown on rights activists, independent media and opposition supporters.

The Supreme Court’s ruling to close Memorial, an international human rights group that drew international acclaim for its studies of political repression in the Soviet Union, has sparked international outrage.