Madame Chair,
Norway is deeply concerned by the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in the Russian Federation. The authorities continue to suppress independent media, peaceful protests, and the work of human rights organisations.
Recently, we have witnessed several politically motivated court cases. To suppress political opposition – as in the case of Aleksey Navalnyj. Or to hamper the work of human rights activists – as in the case of Yuri Dmitriev.
Using the legal system to silence dissidents is a travesty of justice. The Russian government will be held to account for politically motivated persecutions. We again call on Russia to respect the fundamental freedoms of its citizens and stop violating international obligations the country has itself decided to sign up to, including relevant OSCE commitments.
Thank you