The head of the Council of Europe's human rights commission called on Russia's Prosecutor General's Office to halt the liquidation of the human rights centers Memorial and International Memorial (both recognized as "foreign agents" in Russia).
Russian authorities shld stop liquidation of Memorial groups, bring the law & practice re NGOs in line w. European #humanrights standards & ensure that #humanrightsdefenders can work safely & freely.
— Commissioner for Human Rights (@CommissionerHR) December 7, 2021
Read my letter to #Russia's General Prosecutor https://t.co/c978qQIEbc
In a letter to Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov, the head of the Commission expressed concern over the persecution of two reputable human rights organizations under the Russian law on "foreign agents".
Dunja Mijatović asked to stop the process of liquidation and bring the legislation on "foreign agents" in line with European standards of human rights. Mijatović pointed out that various bodies of the Council of Europe had previously recognized the Russian law as contradictory to the conditions of civil society. It significantly interferes with the rights to freedom of association and expression, and marginalizes those affected, the letter said.
Mijatović regretted that the Russian authorities continue to restrict freedom of expression and civil society activities.
