Human Rights and Citizen Rights
Reiter
Human Rights
What are Human rights? Human rights protect human dignity and determine how individuals interact in society and with their governments. Governments have obligations under human rights laws, while individuals must use their rights and respect the rights of others. Over the years, Russia has had problems meeting its obligations under international human rights treaties in several instances. However, with the war of aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation has cast away any notion of respect for internationally recognized human rights
Russia's Erosion of Human Rights since the war of aggression against Ukraine
March 15, 2022: Russia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe was followed by the enactment of a retroactive law granting Russian authorities the power to disregard judgments from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). These actions undermined Russia's commitment to international human rights standards.
April 2022: The United Nations General Assembly suspends Russia from the UN Human Rights Council in response to the war in Ukraine, expressing global concern about the human rights situation in Russia. The Council also appointed its first Special Rapporteur, Mariana Katzarova, to monitor and report on human rights in the Russian Federation. These developments show that international attention to Russia's human rights practices has increased.
2023 World Report on Human Rights
According to the 2023 World Report published by Human Rights Watch such as the Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 7 October 2022, Russia is witnessing significant human rights violations.
The human rights violations include: Human Rights Violations during the War in Ukraine
Russian forces have been involved in bombing of civilian areas, torture, arbitrary detention, kidnappings, forcible transfers of civilians, and extrajudicial killings. There are reports of Ukrainian civilians being unwillingly enlisted into Russia's armed forces.
Persecution of Dissidents, Activists, and Journalists
Russian authorities have taken measures to silence critical voices, leading to the persecution and imprisonment of journalists, activists, and opposition figures who express dissent or engage in peaceful protests. Moreover, there were several closures of independent media outlets and the imposition of improper laws that criminalize anti-war speech, demonstrations, and appeals for sanctions against Russia. Foreign NGOs, including well-known human rights organizations like Memorial, have also been targeted, for example by their websites being blocked, registrations revoked, and offices forcibly closed. The authorities have intensified these efforts in relation to the Ukraine conflict, by introducing new laws that impose censorship, criminalize criticism of the government and armed forces, and curtail freedom of expression.
Crackdown on Foreign Influence and Civil Society
Russia has adopted a "besieged fortress" mentality. This means that Russia uses increasingly rhetoric against foreign influence and the introduction of laws targeting individuals and organizations perceived to be influenced by foreigners. These laws goes beyond the "foreign agents" legislation and apply strict control over international academic cooperation programs.
Proposed Homophobic Legislation and Discrimination
Furthermore, Russia has intensified homophobic and anti-migrant rhetoric such as the proposal for homophobic laws. Emigration from Russia has increased, driven by concerns over the invasion of Ukraine and the general military draft of reservists. Discrimination against immigrants, ethnic minorities, and the LGBT+ community is prevalent.
Impact of International Isolation and Sanctions
The invasion of Ukraine resulted in international isolation and economic sanctions imposed by the EU, the US, and other countries. This let to international companies leaving Russia that led to increased poverty rates worsening living conditions.
Citizen rights
What are Civil rights? Civil rights are a crucial factor in a democracy, because they are ensuring equal opportunities and legal protection for every citizen of a country, regardless of traits like race or religion. These rights include fair trials, voting, public services, and education. Civil rights rely on proactive government actions which are often granted through laws.
Based on the Freedom House Report 2023 of Russia, civil rights in Russia are undermined and often violated.
Freedom of Expression
The media in Russia lacks independence, and vague laws on extremism are used to suppress speech and limit media outlets' activities. The government controls national media outlets and advertising markets, directly or through state-owned companies. Laws on extremism, foreign agents, and undesirable organizations are used to harass media outlets and restrict funding. Websites have been blocked, social media content is censored, and disseminating "false news" about the military can lead to prison terms.
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom of assembly is heavily restricted, making it difficult for Kremlin opponents to hold protests.
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of religion is challenged, because of extensive state control over religious groups. Religious groups deemed to be extremist by the state, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, face surveillance, property seizures, arrests, and torture. Muslims have also been detained for alleged membership in banned Islamist groups.
Right to vote
The political landscape is tightly controlled by the Kremlin, with limited room for genuine opposition parties to emerge. Opposition politicians and activists face unfounded charges and administrative harassment. The electoral laws and framework are structured to ensure the dominance of the ruling party, and online voting raises concerns about security and secrecy.
Freedom of the press
Russia's media landscape remains controlled and restricted, offering limited access to independent sources and exposing journalists to significant risks.
The World Freedom Index, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), assesses press freedom across 180 countries. In 2023, Russia's ranking stands at a low 164, scoring 34.77 in the RSF index.
In Russia's media landscape, privately owned independent TV channels are prohibited, except for cable entertainment channels. Many Western media outlets are inaccessible, leaving remaining media tied to Kremlin allies or practicing strict self-censorship due to banned topics. Similar constraints apply to radio stations.
Official discourse, supported by propaganda, revolves around historical grievances and conspiracy theories.
Journalists encounter safety risks, from heavy sentences to intimidation tactics. They may be labeled "foreign agents" or linked to "undesirable organizations.” Many have chosen exile due to pressure from authorities.
Corruption
The latest CPI places Russia on rank 137 out of 180 countries with a low score of 28. This indicates that Russia heavily struggles with corruption in the public sector.