Human rights in Russia have taken a steep decline since the invasion of Ukraine, leading to a systematic crackdown on civil society, as revealed by a recent UN report. The report highlights instances of police brutality, repression of independent media, and efforts to silence Kremlin critics through punitive laws.
Special rapporteur Mariana Katzarova, who was denied entry into Russia, gathered information from various sources, uncovering reports of torture, sexual violence, and harsh prison sentences for acts deemed as inciting hatred towards the government. The Kremlin has remained silent on the findings.
The report sheds light on the impact of laws targeting dissent and fake news, leading to arbitrary arrests and prolonged imprisonments. Cases like that of Artyom Kamardin, jailed for reading an anti-war poem, underscore the severity of restrictions on freedom of expression.
Further, the report delves into the government’s efforts to influence children’s views on the conflict in Ukraine and the mistreatment of men sent to fight, particularly those from indigenous communities. It also exposes the judiciary’s alignment with the government, rising homophobia, and disproportionate targeting of female activists. The report serves as a stark warning of the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia.
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