A group of experts from the United Nations on Friday called on Russian authorities to end “the escalated repression of civil society” that threatens freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in that country.
UN experts also urged Russia to end judicial harassment and the climate of intimidation against civil society, human rights defenders and the media.
In a statement released this Friday, the group of rapporteurs also asked the Russian government to stop referring to these groups as “foreign agents,” a term that has negative connotations and refers to the Soviet era, suggesting espionage.
The Russian Presidency (Kremlin) this week ordered the closure of one of Russia’s oldest and leading human rights organizations, the Moscow Helsinki Group.
This non-governmental organization (NGO) was established in May 1976 to monitor Soviet compliance with the Helsinki Accords and to report human rights violations in the Soviet Union (USSR) to the West.
The trial against the well-known NGO started on Wednesday and the verdict was read just six hours after the start of the hearing.
In recent months, other associations, such as Memorial International, winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, have also been dissolved.
According to UN experts, “the decision to order the dissolution of the Moscow Helsinki Group shows that the Russian authorities continue to violate the obligations imposed by international law” and “foster a climate of fear” in the country.
Among the signatories of the statement presented this Friday are the rapporteur on the right to freedom of association and assembly, Clément Nyaletsossi, the rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, and the rapporteur on the situation human rights defender Mary law officer.
Source: DN
