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Recommendations

Today, Russia has a vibrant NGO community. However, parts of it are increasingly embattled and there is a real risk of a government-led crackdown on critical NGOs more generally in the next few years. To avoid such a crackdown and, instead, empower NGOs to play a more prominent role in public life in Russia, Human Rights Watch makes the following recommendations.

To the Russian Government and State Duma

• The authors of the draft law should withdraw it. If not, the State Duma should reject the draft. If the law is adopted, President Putin should veto it;
• End official harassment and intimidation of NGOs and their activists that work on human rights in the context of the Chechnya conflict;
• End harassment of victims of human rights abuses who speak out on their fate or seek justice, and thoroughly investigate all cases of official harassment;
• Refrain from interfering with the legitimate activities of all NGOs;
• Publicly express support for the work of NGOs and stress the importance of such work in any democratic society;
• Investigate any cases of unlawful interference, harassment or intimidation of NGOs, human rights defenders, or victims; and
• Issue a standing invitation to the U.N. Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders to visit the Russian Federation.

To the International Community

• Strongly oppose the draft law on NGOs. Make clear to the Russian government that passage of this draft law (or any revised draft) that interferes with the rights to freedom of association and speech would have serious consequences;
• Forcefully express support for the work of human rights and other NGOs in Russia, and make clear that a government-led crackdown on them will have serious repercussions for bilateral and multilateral relations;
• Point out the vital importance of a strong and independent civil society for the proper functioning of any democratic state, including Russia, and encourage the government to promote the development of civil society;
• Express deep concern about the crackdown on NGOs that work on human rights in the context of the Chechnya conflict, and urge the Russian government to end this crackdown;
• Continue to support financially and otherwise the work of civil society groups in Russia;
• Insist that Russia thoroughly investigate all cases of unlawful interference, harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders;
• Call for a thorough government investigation into all reports of harassment and attacks against any person in relation to applications filed with the European Court of Human Rights;

• Encourage the Russian government to issue a standing invitation to the U.N. Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders.