Russian opposition activist granted British asylum

The leader of a Russian youth opposition group has been granted political asylum by Britain, the group said. Andrei Sidelnikov, the head of "Pora!", or "It's time!", applied for asylum in December 2007 in London after Russia's security services tried to prevent him travelling abroad, giving no reason, the group said. "We consider it (granting of asylum) as recognition of the fact that Russia today has become an undemocratic country, where the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens are being violated," the group said late on Friday on its Web site. The British Home Office could not be reached for comment.... [read full story]