• Human Rights in Russia

    Mass protests following Russia’s December 2011 parliamentary elections prompted promises of political reforms. However, after his return to the presidency, Vladimir Putin oversaw the swift reversal of former President Dmitry Medvedev’s few, timid advances on political freedoms and unleashed an unprecedented crackdown against civic activism. New laws restrict nongovernmental organizations, undermine freedoms of assembly and expression, and discourage international advocacy.New local laws discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Abuses continue in the counterinsurgency campaign in the North Caucasus.

  • On the night before the “foreign agents” law came into force, unknown individuals sprayed graffiti reading, “Foreign Agent! ♥ USA” on the buildings hosting the offices of three prominent NGOs in Moscow, including Memorial.
    © 2012 Yulia Klimova/Memorial
    Russia: “Foreign Agents” Law Hits Hundreds of NGOs: Updated June 17, 2013
    Starting in early March 2013 the Russian government launched a nationwide campaign of inspections of nongovernmental organizations, unprecedented in its scale and scope.
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Russia

  • Welcome to Russia’s Syria doublespeak
    Jun 19, 2013
    While world leaders managed to produce a joint communique on Syria at the end of the G8 summit, the closing media remarks made it clear that Vladimir Putin hasn’t actually moved an inch on the issue. The Russian president once again lashed out at the European Union and the United States for considering arms shipments to the Syrian opposition, suggesting it will further destabilize Syria. At the same time, he made it clear that Russia will continue supplying a range of weapons to the Syrian government, arguing that this will help stabilize the region while preventing a foreign intervention.
  • Campaign Letter to the IOC
    Jun 14, 2013
  • Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 13 June
    Jun 13, 2013
  • Russia/Kyrgyzstan: Overturn Extradition Orders
    Jun 13, 2013
    Russia’s Supreme Court should stop the extradition of three ethnic Uzbeks to Kyrgyzstan, where they would be at serious risk of torture. On June 19, 2013, the court is scheduled to hear an appeal of the prosecutor general’s decision to extradite Gairatbek Saliev, in response to a request by the Kyrgyz government for his extradition to stand trial on multiple charges relating to the June 2010 interethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan.
  • Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 11 June
    Jun 11, 2013
  • Russia: Drop Homophobic Law
    Jun 10, 2013
    Russia’s parliament should reject a draft law that would de-facto ban disseminating information about “non-traditional” sexuality. The bill’s provisions would infringe on Russian citizens’ freedom of expression and information, and discriminate against Russia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
  • UN Human Rights Council: Extreme Concern due to Increased Restrictions Affecting NGO Activities
    Jun 4, 2013
    Human Rights Watch is extremely concerned by increased restrictions affecting NGO activities in many countries, in particular restrictions to access to funding as highlighted in the report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
  • Russia/EU: Focus on Rights at Summit
    Jun 3, 2013
    The European Union should press Russia’s leadership at the EU-Russia summit to end the crackdown on civil society. The 31st summit meeting since two sides started meeting regularly will be on June 3 and 4, 2013, in Ekaterinburg.
  • Russia: More than 50 Groups Targeted
    May 21, 2013
    Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland should urge Russian leaders to end the crackdown on civil society groups during his visit to Russia. Jagland is in Moscow on May 19 to 22, 2013 for meetings with President Vladimir Putin and the Russian parliament.
  • Russia: Investigate Homophobic Motivation for Killing
    May 15, 2013
    Russian authorities should ensure that the investigation into the murder of a young man in southern Russia includes whether he was murdered because his killers believed or claimed he was gay. Investigative authorities should examine all possible motives for the killing, including homophobia, due to the sadistic homophobic aspects of the crime.
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