The Russian State Duma (Lower Parliamentary House) has recently passed legislation restricting peaceful protests. In 2013, approximately 600 people were detained after a peaceful demonstration in Moscow, as a result of these new laws that cause protest organizers and participants to face heavy fines and penalties. The legislation, passed in 2012, additionally requires all NGOs that receive any funding from abroad to register as an „organization that functions as a foreign agent,“ and this designation must appear on all public documents and their website. This requirement is because NGOs fall into the loosely defined category of those pursuing „political activities.“ NGOs additionally must undergo frequent checks, and many organizations have had to pay heavy fines or have members awaiting trial because of these new laws. Additionally, Amnesty International and other NGOs in Moscow have had their offices ransacked.
Further legislation has been passed increasing homophobic laws, including restrictions on the freedom of assembly for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people (LGBTI), while simultaneously encouraging homophobic violence throughout Russia. These laws prohibit the „promotion of non-traditional relationships among minors“ and have high penalties that can be imposed not only on Russians, but also on foreigners.
A blasphemy law was also introduced after the performance by the punk rock group Pussy Riot in the largest Orthodox cathedral in Moscow in 2012. Two of the members of the bank are now in prison serving two-year sentences, as a result of the law punishing defamation of faith with up to three years in prison and defiling places of worship with up to five years. Additionally, desecration of religious symbols or literature is punishable by high monetary fines.
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Termination of the systematic attacks on civil society
The repeal of laws in direct conflict of Russian law and international agreements Russia has entered into.
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing to you to express my deep concern over a series of laws that restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly that have been passed by the Russian authorities over the last two years. Amnesty International considers these laws to suppress creativity and development of civil society and undermine the legitimate role of human rights NGOs in Russia.
In the light of the above described, I call on you, Mr. President, to repeal laws that:
• recriminalize libel
• restrict public protests
• broaden the legal definitions of “treason” and “espionage”
• oblige NGOs to register as foreign agents
• make “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors” an offence, and
• criminalize insulting the religious feelings of believers.
We believe that these laws are inconsistent with Russia’s international obligations and its own Constitution and must be repealed. We call on you to uphold the freedom of expression, association and assembly in Russia.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Yours sincerely,
