Statement by Sweden in the interactive dialogue on Russian Federation

Sweden will be active during the Universal Periodic Review. Photo: Kajsa Aulin/ Permanent Mission of Sweden

Thank you Mr. President,

Sweden wishes to welcome the delegation of the Russian Federation and would like to offer the following recommendations:

1. To repeal the legislation on “undesirable organisations” and “foreign agents”.

2. To repeal laws that limit freedom of expression online and offline, including the so-called Yarovaya package of counter-terrorism legislation.

3. To end the practice of using the broad and vague anti-extremism and counter-terrorism legislation to pursue politically motivated charges.

4. To refrain from detaining participants of peaceful demonstrations and to ensure that police officers who use excessive force against protesters are held accountable.

5. To end the practice of obstructing peaceful demonstrations by, under politically motivated pretexts, not granting them authorization.

Sweden wishes the Government of the Russian Federation all success in the current review.

I thank you Mr. President