24/07/23 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 21 July, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service denounced the recent adoption by the Russian Duma of a draft law introducing criminal liability for citizens’ participation in the activities of any foreign or international non-governmental organisation not registered by the Russian Ministry of Justice. It also restricts interaction with ‘foreign agents’. “These amendments aim at further intimidating and persecuting independent and critical voices in the Russian society and isolating Russian people from the rest of the world”, he condemned in a statement. The spokesperson called on the Russian authorities to put an end to this “unfounded repression”, to respect the Russian constitution and to comply with its obligations under international law, including in the area of human rights and freedoms. (CG)