23 September 2024
Mr President,
I speak on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic states. We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report and strongly support the continuation of her mandate.
We are gravely concerned about the dire human rights situation in Russia.
Russia has systemically stifled dissent, silenced independent media, spread disinformation and repressed civil society organisations. Peaceful protesters face brutal crackdowns, arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences.
Domestic repressions go hand in hand with external aggression, threatening the entire international peace and security.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and blatant disregard for international law and human rights have fostered a climate of terror and fear across the country. Political prisoners, including human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists are held hostage for leverage. Indigenous Peoples and persons belonging to minorities are oppressed, LGBTQI persons – outlawed and persecuted.
All international instruments must be mobilised to hold Russia accountable for its grave human rights violations.
Thus, Madam Special Rapporteur,
How can we ensure greater international scrutiny of Russia’s human rights violations and expand access for human rights monitoring mechanisms inside Russia?