The European Parliament called on the Russian authorities, on Thursday 10 June, to “stop their acts of harassment and intimidation and their attacks on civil society, the media, human rights organisations and activists” (see other news).
In the joint resolution adopted by the Greens/EFA, Renew Europe, S&D, ECR and EPP Groups on Russia (564 votes in favour, 61 against and 37 abstentions), MEPs call for the immediate and unconditional release of former Open Russia Executive Director Andrei Pivovarov (see EUROPE 12732/34) and to drop the charges against him and all other persons prosecuted under the law on ‘undesirable organisations’.
Russia should repeal “discriminatory” legislation on ‘foreign agents’ and ‘undesirable organisations’ and reverse the decision to classify 34 foreign NGOs - including three German ones, on 26 May - as ‘undesirable’, add MEPs.
They also call on the Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all peaceful protesters and other civil society activists and politicians detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
For its part, the EU should, according to Parliament, introduce a new conditionality in relations with Russia aimed at ending internal repression in the country. If this situation is not resolved, MEPs call for “introducing new EU sanctions such as cutting off the access of the Russian oligarchs and officials responsible for human rights violations to real-estate purchases, visas, financial products, etc., in the EU”, warn MEPs.
They also call on the EU to increase support for human rights defenders, NGOs and independent media, civil society, but also to assess which institutions, organisations and media with close links to the Russian government should be monitored regarding their activities in the EU.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/353ZIQE (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)