The spokesperson for the European External Action Service condemned on Monday 6 July the conviction of Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva to a fine of over €6,000 for finding an explanation for the reasons that led to a terrorist act, deeming the sentence “unjustified”.
In a radio programme, Ms Prokopyeva had stated that a terrorist attack on a Federal Security Service (FSB) building was linked to the social and political situation in Russia, and that the incident was the result of the State's ongoing restrictions on political and civil liberties.
“The prosecution of Ms Prokopyeva is testimony to the ever-shrinking space for independent journalism and civil society in the Russian Federation over recent years”, the spokesperson said, adding that journalists in Russia faced intimidation, violence, as well as politically motivated arrests and court proceedings.
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, reaffirmed “the urgent need to review the legislation governing freedom of assembly and expression” in Russia.
According to Dunja Mijatović, Russian law needs to be amended to allow spontaneous public events to take place on the one hand and, on the other, to protect journalists and human rights defenders who must be able to carry out their “legitimate activities”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Véronique Leblanc)