UN Report Reveals Worsening Human Rights Crisis in Russia Amid Crackdown on Dissent

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Human rights in Russia have significantly worsened since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a new report by the United Nations. The investigation highlights what it calls a "systematic crackdown" on civil society, marked by police brutality, repression of independent media, and the silencing of Kremlin critics through new punitive laws.

 

 

Mariana Katzarova, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Russia, compiled the report based on interviews with political groups, activists, and lawyers, after being denied entry into the country. She uncovered “credible reports” of torture, sexual violence, and threats of abuse by police. Despite the report’s revelations, the Kremlin has remained silent.

 

While human rights abuses in Russia during President Vladimir Putin’s rule have been documented over the years, this report emphasizes the rapid deterioration of rights since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The report outlines how recent laws targeting the spread of so-called fake news, as well as individuals or organizations receiving foreign support, have been used to "muzzle" dissent both physically and online. These new laws have resulted in “mass arbitrary arrests” and harsh prison sentences for even minor acts of opposition.

 

One particularly striking case is that of Artyom Kamardin, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for publicly reading an anti-war poem. His act was deemed by authorities as “inciting hatred.” Katzarova also highlighted other instances of disproportionate punishment, noting that “Russians are getting shockingly long prison sentences. It’s seven years for reading an anti-war poem, or saying a prayer by a priest which was against the war, or producing a play perceived to be anti-war.”

 

Despite the oppressive environment, Katzarova praised the resilience of those who continue to organize against the regime, noting that opposition to the war remains widespread, though often silent. “As in any totalitarian, authoritarian state, people don't want to get in trouble - it doesn't mean that they are supportive of some madness, an aggressive war against their neighbor,” she added.

 

The report also accuses the Russian government of targeting children with pro-war propaganda, introducing mandatory school lessons called “important conversations” that promote its views on the Ukraine conflict. Those who refuse to participate, including children and their parents, face harassment and pressure. A particularly chilling example involves a fifth-grader in Moscow who was interrogated by police after skipping such a class, leading to charges against their mother for “failing to fulfill parental duties.”

 

The report also sheds light on the mobilization practices in Russia, finding that many men sent to fight in Ukraine were recruited through deception, coercion, or exploitation of their vulnerability. Those who resisted were held in detention centers in occupied areas and faced threats of execution, violence, or imprisonment. Indigenous men, in particular, are disproportionately drafted, and Katzarova warned that these communities are at risk of “extinction” if this trend continues. She suggested that Russian authorities may be intentionally sending "disposable people" to the front lines, rather than ethnic Russians from cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg.

 

The report criticizes Russia’s judiciary, accusing judges of being a “mouthpiece” for the government due to deep political interference. It also highlights the worsening situation for LGBT+ individuals, as recent laws have curtailed their freedoms, reflecting what the report describes as an “increasingly homophobic society.” Female anti-war activists are particularly vulnerable, facing harsher crackdowns and greater risks while in custody.

 

The situation in Chechnya is described as a “climate of fear and repression,” with widespread police brutality serving as a warning for what could happen across Russia. Katzarova’s report, however, focuses on human rights violations within Russia’s internationally recognized borders and does not address abuses in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

 

Based on a report from: BBC 2024-09-25