Political repression during the reign of Russian President Vladimir Putin has become an indispensable part of the state policy of Russia and they become more extensive and tougher, the Association for the Development of Russian Civil Society and Support for Russian Emigrants (AREM) points out in its monitoring report. The review was prepared by the Russian TV NET. We are publishing it without any change.
On Tuesday, June 18, representatives of the AREM and other activists in Latvian parliament introduced the deputies to the repression that Russian civil society faces. The meeting was attended by deputies Inese Voika (“For Development / For!”), Utah Strike (New Conservative Party) and Linda Ozola (New Conservative Party), as well as the deputy of the 12th Sejm Juris Vilums (Latvian Regional Association).
The report, which was prepared with the support of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom, states that political and public opposition organisations and movements, various religious groups, as well as individual activists, dissidents, and nonconformists are being persecuted in Russia.
In a few cases, persecutions are closely related to belonging to a particular ethnic group, explains the organisation, pointing out the 3 factors that allow the authorities to carry out repressive policies with little or no restrictions. These factors are – developed legal framework, practice, and government departments.
The organisation also notes other types of repression. For example, there is a federal campaign. This means that political repression stems from the federal government, turning against a certain political, social or religious group to prevent its growth or destroy it.
“In this case, the regional authorities act with the utmost cruelty and in a very coordinated manner”
Likewise, the federal campaigns that define the political agenda and features of a particular region are being carried out, explain the activists. Political repression in the regions is carried out according to the agenda of the federal and regional policies, as evidenced by the monitoring conducted by the organisation.
The activists found out that the repressions are being carried out in the interests of certain groups, government employees or people close to them
The AREM indicates that various techniques are used to carry out political repression, including an extended interpretation of the articles of the Criminal Code and the Administrative Code, as well as fabrication of cases.
There are also episodic or regular violations of the rights and freedoms of political activists, who are put under pressure in order to create difficulties in the professional sphere, family and everyday life, the monitoring shows.
The meeting of representatives of AREM and other activists with deputies ended with a call for Latvian politicians to spread this news in Europe, including at the European Union level.