U.S. State Department Human Rights Report Criticises Russia

February 28, 2014

The U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, has submitted the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013 report to Congress. In doing so he highlighted that the report details concerns regarding human rights in Russia, stating that:

“Unfortunately, these reports describe new and existing legislative restrictions, in countries such as Russia, that continue to curb civil society and political opposition and target marginalized populations, including religious and ethnic minorities, and the LGBT community.”

The report itself describes the increasing restrictions on freedom of expression and speech, civil society, and human rights that took place in Russia in 2013. It also mentions the release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky in December 2013 after 10 years in jail, refers to the European Court of Human Rights ruling from July 2013 that “identified a number of procedural violations in the case” and points out that the ECtHR is “yet to issue a ruling on a 2010 case in which they were convicted of additional offenses.”

The report goes on to praise Human Rights Ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin, for raising publically his concerns regarding police violence, religious freedom and conditions in prison and for filling appeals contesting Khodorkovsky’s second trial:

“Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin commented publicly on a range of human rights problems, such as police violence, prison conditions, the treatment of children, and religious freedom. Lukin also criticized intolerance and a growing wave of ethnic and religious hatred. Lukin’s office used its influence to draw attention to human rights problems in prisons, and many leaders of human rights NGOs continued to note that Lukin was generally effective as an official advocate for many of their concerns, despite his limited authority. During the year Lukin filed appeals contesting the second trial of, and reimbursement order against, Mikhail Khodorkovskiy, the continued detention of the Bolotnaya Square protesters, and the vague language of the NGO “foreign agent” law.”

The full report can be read here.