The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Monday that Latvia had not broken international law in its decision to prosecute World War II fighter Vasiliy Kononov for war crimes.

The decision by the Strasbourg court's Grand Chamber prompted anger from Russia, which had backed Kononov's argument that the killings had been a justified during the fight against Nazi Germany.

Russia's foreign ministry said that the court had effectively taken the side of Nazi collaborators and that the decision could drive a rift between Russia and Europe.

"By ruling out Latvia's responsibility... the Grand Chamber of the court has practically agreed with those who try to reassess the results of the Second World War and to whitewash the Nazis and their accomplices," a ministry statement said.

The court is an institution of the Council of Europe, which drew particular criticism from Russia.

"The decision of the members of the court in the case of Mr. Kononov seriously damages the credibility of the Council of Europe in general and may be viewed as an attempt to draw new dividing lines in Europe," the statement said.

The 87-year-old Kononov, who was granted Russian citizenship in 2000, was convicted in 2004 of murdering Latvian civilians during the war. He was sentenced to one year and eight months in jail.

Case sparked Russian anger

The case sparked outrage in Russia where Kononov was viewed by many as a heroic partisan who had been fighting the Nazis.

Kononov was part of a group that raided and burned homes in a Latvian village in 1944 after they found weapons supplied by Germany. Nine people were killed, six men and three women - one of whom was heavily pregnant.

Kononov challenged the ruling, arguing that the victims were collaborators who had handed in 12 fellow partisans, including a woman and a child, to the Nazis.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry has accused Russia of trying to exert pressure on the court during the case. A statement from the Latvian Foreign Ministry said it "strongly condemns attempts by representatives of the Russian Federation to exercise pressure on the European Court of Human Rights."

Latvia has called for the Council of Europe, to which Russia is a signatory member, to condemn the alleged interference.

rc/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Martin Kuebler