Statements Special Procedures
Russia: All remaining human rights defenders, journalists and anti-war critics convicted in sham trials must be released, say UN experts
02 August 2024
GENEVA – UN experts* today welcomed the release of 16 prisoners detained in Russia, while sounding the alarm about up to 1372 more detainees held on politically motivated charges in the country. The experts called on Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those imprisoned for peacefully expressing their political views and opposing the war against Ukraine. They issued the following joint statement:
“We welcome the release of Evan Gershkovich, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Lilia Chanysheva, Ilya Yashin, Andrey Pivovarov, Alsu Kurmasheva, Oleg Orlov, Sasha Skochilenko, and others in the biggest prisoner exchange since the Cold War, involving Russia, Belarus, the USA, Poland, Norway, Slovenia, Türkiye and Germany, on 1 August 2024.
Most of the released were arbitrarily detained for peacefully opposing the Russian government and its war against Ukraine through human rights advocacy, journalism, artistic expression, and political activism. Their detentions violated international human rights standards and reflected an intensified crackdown on dissent and free expression in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Russia for simply carrying out their professional duties. Pulitzer Prize-winning author and political figure, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and fellow opposition activists Ilya Yashin and Andrey Pivovarov, were detained for being active members of the Russian political opposition and raising their voices against the war on Ukraine. Lilia Chanysheva and two of her colleagues were detained on charges of “organising extremist activities” for their work at the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) headed by Alexey Navalny. Oleg Orlov, leading Russian human rights defender and co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Memorial, was targeted for his human rights work and his vocal opposition against the war, while artist Sasha Skochilenko was convicted for replacing price tags at a supermarket with anti-war stickers. Also, three German-Russian dual citizens included in the exchange were convicted on charges of treason, in court hearings held behind closed doors and the evidence used against them was never made public.
We share the joy and relief of families and loved ones of the released activists, who are now free and no longer subjected to brutal treatment in detention. However, we remain deeply concerned about the 700 to 1372 other political prisoners still detained in Russia on fabricated or politically motivated charges. Their continued imprisonment exposes them to the risk of further human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment and enforced disappearance as well as reinforces the urgent need for Russia to respect human rights and fulfil its international obligations.
The Russian government must immediately and unconditionally release all remaining political prisoners.
We also urge Russia to repeal legislation restricting freedom of expression, including laws against “spreading fake news about the actions of the Russian armed forces”, “discrediting the actions of the Russian armed forces” and “extremism.” It is crucial to amend criminal laws and prevent the misuse of national security laws to silence dissent and target opposition figures, human rights defenders and journalists reporting truthfully on the war against Ukraine and critical of the Russian government.”
The experts: Mariana Katzarova, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Cecilia M Bailliet, Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity; Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights; Aua Baldé (Chair-Rapporteur), Gabriella Citroni (Vice-Chair), Grażyna Baranowska (member), and Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez (member), Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls, Ms. Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression.
Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN human rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organisation. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
UN Human Rights, country page – Russian Federation
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