11/09/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 10 September, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service urged the Russian authorities to abide fully by the international commitments Russia has made to uphold fundamental rights. It also urged the Russian authorities to release without delay the peaceful demonstrators and journalists who were arrested the previous day following peaceful protests against Russia's unpopular pensions reform. "In several cases violence was used against them by the Russian authorities", the EEAS spokesperson stated in a press release, adding that these actions prevented the exercise of the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, which are fundamental human rights enshrined in the Russian constitution as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "The detention of a number of journalists undermines the freedom of expression", the spokesperson said, also stating that "a free media is essential and must be protected". (CG)