The SOVA Center presented a report on unlawful anti-extremism in 2015

On March 1, 2016 in Moscow, in the hall of the International "Memorial", the Information and Analytical Center "Sova" held a presentation of the report "Illegal application of anti-extremist legislation in 2015".

The press conference was attended by the authors of the report Maria Kravchenko and Alexander Verkhovsky, as well as Deputy Chairman of the Crimean Field Mission for Human Rights Dmitry Makarov.

Director of the SOVA center Alexander Verkhovsky told the audience about the legal innovations of 2015 related to countering extremism, including amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses on the abuse of freedom of the mass media, a ban on recognizing religious texts as extremist.

Maria Kravchenko in her speech highlighted the trends in the application of anti-extremist legislation, dwelling, in particular, on the blocking of pages on the Internet (including those under the "Lugovoi law"); criminal prosecution for statements on the "Ukrainian issue" and "calls for separatism"; abuses related to the prohibition of political organizations; persecution of religious groups (Hizb ut-Tahrir, Tablighi Jamaat, followers of Said Nursi, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.).

During the event, a video was shown about the unlawful persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. After that, Dmitry Makarov spoke about the specifics of counter-extremism measures faced by residents of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. At the end of the presentation, the participants of the presentation answered the journalists' questions.

The text of the report was published on the website of the Dozhd TV channel and on the website of the SOVA Center.

Sources

• As Russia is recognized as an extremist. Absurd stories. Study of the SOVA Center // Rain. 2016. March 1.
  
  
• Press reviews:
• Bachinsky A. "Law enforcement officers must be accountable" // Kasparov.Ru. 2016. March 1.
• Tumanov G. Kindle, but remember // Kommersant. 2016. March 2.
• Trifonova E. Catch on the word // Novye Izvestia. March, 3rd.
• Kim W. Alexander Verkhovsky: The fight against extremism has spread to the Internet // Epoch Times. 2016. March 4. *