Statement on behalf of the NB8 countries at the Interactive dialogue with the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation

We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report on the situation of human rights in Russia and welcome the extended mandate.

Over the past two decades, the human rights situation in Russia has increasingly deteriorated. As highlighted in the report, Russia’s human rights violations against its own population have become more systematic since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian Government has made no attempt to implement recommendations from earlier reports. Instead, the widespread repression inside Russia has further accelerated, as manifested by the violent crackdown on civil society, independent media, democratic voices, as well as increasing restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly, association, and freedom of expression, online and offline.  Measures to reverse this repressive trend is of utmost necessity, which underlines the importance of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.   

We urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally release the thousands of who continue to be arbitrarily detained on politically motivated charges, as well as to ensure their health and rehabilitation. We are also deeply concerned about the reports of torture inside Russian prisons and urge Russia to stop these practices.

We also reiterate our call on Russia to bring domestic legislation into compliance with its obligations under international human rights law, and to cooperate with all UN human rights mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur, and grant them access to its territory.

Madame Special Rapporteur,

Which issues merit your particular attention during your extended mandate?  

Thank you.