The EU, US, Canada, UK and Australia deplored, on 31 December, the decisions of two Russian courts to forcibly close International Memorial and the Memorial Human Rights Center (see EUROPE 12856/20).
“The claim by Russian authorities that Memorial Human Rights Center’s principled and peaceful work ‘justifies extremism and terrorism’ cannot be accepted”, they said in a joint statement.
According to the EU and these countries, the “unconscionable decision to silence Memorial” follows many months of deepening and systematic repression in Russia against human rights defenders, independent media and journalists, political opposition members and critical voices, as well as religious minority groups and other marginalized groups. “This further harms Russia’s international reputation”, they warned, calling on Russia to respect its international human rights obligations and commitments.
The West also once again condemned the Russian legislation on ‘foreign agents’, “which further silences independent voices and shrinks the space for civil society”. “The people of Russia, like people everywhere, have the right to freedom of expression and association, including in defence of their human rights and fundamental freedoms”, they said.
See the statement: https://bit.ly/3mQihBe (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)