Europe's top human rights court has ordered Russia to pay damages for the fatal shooting of a Moldovan teenager in 2012 by a Russian soldier.

Vadim Pisari, 18, was killed by a Russian soldier on January 1, 2012 as he was driving across a bridge in a part of Moldova where Russian, Moldovan, and Transdniester security forces were stationed.

Pisari failed to slow for a checkpoint and crashed through a barrier.

A Russian soldier responded by first firing in the air, and then directly at Pisari’s car.

But the European Court for Human Rights ruled on April 21 that the soldier's "decision to shoot at the passing vehicle” was not justified.

It ordered Russia to pay 25,000 euros ($27,000) damages and about 5,500 euros ($5,900) in legal costs to Pisari's family.

Moldovan Justice Minister Vladimir Grosu said the ruling shows there should be no foreign armed forces in the pro-Russian region of Transdniester.

Transdniester declared independence from Moldova in 1990 but its self-declared statehood is not recognized by the international community.

With reporting by AP