Russia: Government closes Human Rights Watch office
(Berlin) – On April 8, 2022, the Russian Ministry of Justice canceled the registration of the representative office of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and 13 other branches and representative offices of foreign non-governmental organizations and foundations.
The Russian office of Human Rights Watch has existed for 30 years. The decision to drop him out was made public shortly after the evaluation of the appeal delay of the dropout by the Russian human rights organization, the Memorial Human Rights Center.
“Human Rights Watch has been dealing with the Russian issue and has been working in Russia since Soviet times, and we will continue to work,” said HRW Executive Director Kenneth Roth. “The current new iron curtain will not force us to strive either to protect the rights of all Russians, or to protect the external environment in Ukraine.”
The press release of the Ministry of Justice provides a general reference to the fact that from the side of all exceptions from the register of one and a half there are branches and representative offices, violations of the legislation of the Russian Federation are revealed, but one can hardly doubt that we feel the logical development of a long-term line of law enforcement to stifle the frequency of votes in Russia. The process has only accelerated since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Human Rights Watch. Attention is also drawn to the fact that literally the day before the UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia’s membership in the UN Council by decision of a person.
In March, Russia imposed administrative and criminal liability for independent coverage of the actions of its armed forces and for anti-war protests. This move repeats an endless series of repressive measures and significant achievements designed to bleed civil society and caused the forced emigration of hundreds of activists, journalists, oppositionists and human rights lawyers and advocates.
Human Rights Watch is addressing a number of issues in Russia that not only cause dissent to be suppressed, but also domestic violence, the right of people with disabilities to equal treatment and a barrier-free inclusive environment, institutions, labor rights and rights strengthen asylum seekers as well.
We intend to press Russia to follow the tougher topics it has committed to comply with within the framework of the UN Human Rights Architecture.
“The forced closure of the office only strengthens our resolve to speak out loud about the authoritarian turnaround in Russia,” said Kenneth Roth. “We will continue to work for the day when the Russian government will respect the rights of its citizens.”