UN special procedures experts asked the Russian state questions about the liquidation of Memorials

Representatives published questions sent to the authorities of the Russian Federation about the liquidation of historical, cultural and human rights organizations - International Memorial and the Memorial Human Rights Center. Post on their website.

Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council published Experts ask government authorities to comment on the liquidation of the Memorials and provide additional information, including materials from court cases explaining how they comply with international human rights law, which Russia has committed to comply with. The special rapporteurs are also interested in the measures that the state took to create a safe environment for human rights defenders and public figures and ensure that they have the opportunity to work peacefully legally.

Memorial Human Rights Center lawyer Tatyana Glushkova explains why the reaction of UN special procedures is important:

The request means that the special rapporteurs, firstly, consider the situation with the Memorials to be significant enough to publicly discuss it at the UN level, and secondly, they believe that the liquidation of the Memorials will contradict the international obligations of the Russian Federation. Although the special rapporteurs do not have the authority to force the Russian authorities to do anything, their reaction once again demonstrates that all international organizations are united in assessing their actions and consider what is happening to be an exceptional event.

The special procedures commissioners expressed serious concern that the liquidation of human rights organizations is aimed at stopping their human rights activities, and that, in their opinion, the actions taken by the state are clearly disproportionate to the alleged violations. They also called on the Russian authorities to take temporary measures to stop the liquidation of Memorials.

Separately, human rights activists mentioned repressive “foreign agent” legislation that has a negative impact on civil society, and called for its repeal or significant changes to bring it into line with Russia’s international human rights obligations. The experts indicated that they had already repeatedly sent messages to the Russian Federation about the application of the law on “foreign agents” and about pressure on human rights structures.

The UN special procedures responded to the joint OVD-Info, Memorials and the Moscow Helsinki Group dated November 19, 2021. A few days later, special rapporteurs and experts communicated with him and sent a message to the Russian authorities. It is known that on January 19, the Russian Federation, at the moment it is not published.

the appeal was responded to by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor, the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights Alexandra Xanthaki, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan, the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association Clément Nyaletsossi Voul, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Diego Garcia-Sayan and independent expert on human rights and international solidarity Obiora C. Okafor.

• On December 29, 2021, the European Court of Human Rights from Russia suspended the execution of decisions on the liquidation of the International Society "Memorial" and the Human Rights Center "Memorial". demanded - In November 2021, the prosecutor's office demanded liquidation for "systematic violations of the legislation on 'foreign agents'." At the end of December, the “International Memorial” was liquidated, and the Human Rights Center “Memorial” was liquidated. Both decisions are currently being appealed. "International Memorial" Human Rights Center "Memorial" Supreme Court Moscow City Court