Intensifying repression in Russia ahead of elections: UK statement
Ambassador Bush voices UK concern over the intensifying repression in Russia ahead of the September Duma elections.
Thank you Mr Chair, and I am grateful to our US colleagues for putting this issue on the agenda today.바카라 사이트Ż There are a number of issues of importance to us all as OSCE participating States which give us cause for concern and which it is right to highlight in our discussion today.
The United Kingdom regrets the measures taken by the Russian authorities to repress civil society and silence independent media in Russia ahead of September바카라 사이트™s State Duma elections.
We have previously expressed our deep concerns about Russia바카라 사이트™s legislation on so-called 바카라 사이트śundesirable organisations바카라 사이트ť and 바카라 사이트śforeign agents바카라 사이트ť, and the use of this legislation to target Russian civil society and suppress dissenting voices.
We condemn the authorities바카라 사이트™ designation of 바카라 사이트śProekt바카라 사이트ť as 바카라 사이트śundesirable바카라 사이트ť and the designation of 바카라 사이트śDozhd바카라 사이트ť and individual journalists as 바카라 사이트śforeign agents바카라 사이트ť. These designations are yet another step in Russia바카라 사이트™s repression of independent media.
The expulsion of the journalist Sarah Rainsford is a retrograde step by the Russian authorities. We urge them to reconsider this action which can only do further damage to media freedom in Russia.
Furthermore, the designation of the independent monitoring organisation 바카라 사이트śGolos바카라 사이트ť as a 바카라 사이트śforeign agent바카라 사이트ť is unjustifiable. Again, we must draw our own conclusions on why Russia does not want its elections to be monitored by independent bodies. As we stated on 5 August, the lack of true independent observation is against the interests of the Russian people and anyone who wishes to see democracy protected in Russia.
These actions are only the latest step in Russia바카라 사이트™s comprehensive efforts to limit political freedoms and civil society space.
Previously, we also expressed concerns that use of legislation signed into law on 4 June regarding so-called 바카라 사이트śextremist바카라 사이트ť organisations, was coordinated to preclude participation of specific opposition movements ahead of the start of the official pre-electoral campaign period.
The Moscow City Court바카라 사이트™s perverse ruling of Alexey Navalny바카라 사이트™s Anti-Corruption Foundation and political networks as 바카라 사이트śextremist바카라 사이트ť organisations, the criminal charges brought against Mr Navalny바카라 사이트™s associates and the sentencing of Mr Navalny바카라 사이트™s allies on COVID-19 related charges, form a deliberate attempt to outlaw genuine political opposition in Russia.
The Russian authorities바카라 사이트™ actions disregard the fundamental freedoms and human rights of Russian citizens, and contradict its human rights commitments.
Ahead of September바카라 사이트™s State Duma elections, we urge the Russian authorities to reverse these designations and to take all measures necessary to fulfil their obligations under the OSCE바카라 사이트™s human dimension and other international human rights commitments.