2012 – Russia’s Worst Year for Human Rights Since USSR Collapse

Published on Jan 31, 2013
Human Rights Watch releases 2012 annual report, warning of the steady decline in human rights in Russia after President Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency.

Full story:

A representative from Human Rights Watch said on Thursday that 2012 was the worst year for human rights in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Human Rights Watch Europe and Central Asia Division Deputy Director Rachel Denber spoke with journalists in Moscow.

She says Russia’s human rights last year was the worst she could remember in her 20 years of work in the former Soviet Union.

[Rachel Denber, Deputy Director, Human Rights Watch Europe and Central Asia Division]:
“After the return of Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin, and I would say even before then, not only was the cautious progress towards liberalization of the ‘Medvedev-era’ liquidated, but in these months, authoritarianism in Russia reached a level unseen in this country’s recent history. The foundation of this authoritarian turn was a package of laws adopted by the State Duma. I don’t think it’s necessary to describe them in detail now, but I will just list them: this is restrictions on the freedom of assembly, restrictions on Internet content, the return of criminal liability for slander—which had been cancelled by Medvedev in the previous months—and this, of course includes the law about so-called foreign agents.”

Last summer, shortly after Putin was sworn into office, Russia passed a series of laws branding many rights and campaign groups as “foreign agents”.

It’s a move opponents say was an attempt to stifle protests against Vladimir Putin.

Denber says the decline in Russia’s human rights situation has been steadily worsening.

[Rachel Denber, Deputy Director, Human Rights Watch Europe and Central Asia Division]:
“For a decade since the so-called ‘colour revolutions’, the Russian authorities have been attempting to marginalize, demonize, and discredit opposition politicians, human rights activists, civil society organizations, and the political opposition.”

Human rights organizations are voicing the rights issues against the fact that Russia is set to hold the Winter Olympics in February 2014.

[Rachel Denber, Deputy Director, Human Rights Watch Europe and Central Asia Division]:
“Soon, in almost one year, the Olympics will take place in Russia, in Sochi, and I want to say that this is, of course, a very joyful occasion. But I want to say that the attack on civil society and this excessive suspicion towards foreigners is simply not compatible with the role of Russia as an Olympic Games host country. This, in my opinion, contradicts the Olympic spirit.”

Human Rights Watch says they have noted abuses such as expropriation of property, linked to Russia’s preparations for the 2014 Olympic Games.

Other issues raised include the harassment of Kremlin critics and human rights activists, and the Russian legislation banning so-called ‘homosexual propaganda’.

Also raised were the failures of the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development to meet World Health Organization standards.

Emoticon diplomacy in Europe

Uploaded by EconomistMagazine on Mar 1, 2011
Europe: the inside story

An irreverent take on how the continent’s history shapes its modern geopolitics

Immigrants Reflect on Soviet Collapse

Uploaded by VOAvideo on Dec 14, 2011

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union 20 years ago, millions of people have emigrated from the newly created nations that once were constituent republics of the communist empire. Our correspondent spoke to several of them who have settled in New York. Peter Fedynsky has this report.

Biography of Harry S. Truman: Atomic Bombs, Communism, Korean War

The buck stopped with him. http://www.WatchMojo.com learns more about the life and accomplishments of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman.

Biography of Richard Nixon: Presidency and Watergate

November 8, 2011

He was the first American president to resign from the job. http://www.WatchMojo.com learns more about the life and accomplishments of Richard Nixon.

Biography of Jimmy Carter: From Peanut Farmer to President

October 1, 2011

He was an idealistic peanut farmer who became President of the United States. http://www.WatchMojo.com learns more about the life and accomplishments of Jimmy Carter.

World War II: Which Countries Fought?

This battle was essentially a fight between the Axis Powers and the Allied forces. In Part 3 of our series on WWII, http://www.WatchMojo.com finds out who was fighting whom during the Second World War.

Dark side behind Soviet space success

This week marks 50 years since the former USSR put the first man in space.

Behind the success, little is known about the secret experiments and failed launches that dogged the early years of the Soviet space programme.

Neave Barker reports from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.