Russia: year on from Pussy Riot cathedral protest, free speech under attack

‘New laws introduced since the Pussy Riot protest have given the authorities sweeping powers to clamp down on NGOs’ - John Dalhuisen

A year after the punk band Pussy Riot performed a protest song in Moscow's main Orthodox cathedral (on 21 February 2012), the situation for freedom of expression has only worsened in Russia, Amnesty International said today.

Last year’s arrest and criminal conviction of Pussy Riot members under the dubious charge of “hooliganism on the grounds of religious hatred” signalled a fresh and severe clampdown on human rights in the country. Since then Russia’s Parliament has adopted several new laws targeting activists and those critical of the authorities.

Amnesty International Europe and Central Asia Director John Dalhuisen said:

“New laws introduced since the Pussy Riot protest have given the authorities sweeping powers to clamp down on NGOs, human rights and political activists in Russia and go against the country’s international human rights obligations.

“Meanwhile, two Pussy Riot band members are still languishing in a prison colony far from their families, including small Children's rights - and our call for their immediate release continues.

“Russia’s government is failing to live up to promises made to its citizens 20 years ago after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It desperately needs to show a commitment to upholding human rights and must stop peddling the disingenuous line that civil liberties and social, economic and political stability are incompatible in Russia.”

Fresh attacks on free speech:
Last June the Russian authorities introduced further restrictive rules on conducting public protests, along with exceptionally high penalties of up to £20,000. The same month libel - which had only a few months earlier been de-criminalised - made its way back into the Criminal Code, with heftier fines than before.

In November a new law was introduced requiring NGOs receiving overseas funding to register as “foreign agents”. This not only puts additional administrative burden on them, but may create negative perceptions of their activities due to the negative connotation “foreign agent” has in the Russian language. In the same month a broad new legal definition of “treason” was also introduced, which could potentially criminalise human rights and political activism.

Meanwhile, in December Russia’s Parliament passed the so-called “Dima Yakovlev” law, imposing further severe restrictions on NGOs and introducing discriminatory measures aimed at persons with dual US and Russian citizenship.

Harsh punishment for Pussy Riot:
While these legislative changes were being rolled out, the Russian authorities tried, convicted and imposed harsh punishment on the three Pussy Riot band members for their protest a year ago at Moscow’s cathedral.

In August 2012, following several months of pre-trial detention and unfair court proceedings, Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in a penal colony for their part in the protest. Ekaterina Samutsevich was later granted conditional release on appeal.

Amnesty has drawn attention to the conditions in which Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina are being held. Alekhina has received threats and has had to be placed in solitary confinement. The maximum period she can be held there - three months - is due to expire soon, so the penal colony authorities must look at other options for her safety. Meanwhile, Tolokonnikova has health conditions which have apparently deteriorated while in custody. Even though some medical help is being provided, her health might deteriorate further.

Both women have young Children's rights who might be deprived of full contact with their mothers for yet another year.

Ekaterina Samutsevich recently told Amnesty:

“The fact that Nadia and Masha are imprisoned even though they have Children's rights is also a certain kind of intimidation. After that, who would want to engage in [protests] if they have Children's rights? This is cruelty on purpose, cruelty for propaganda purposes. This is very unpleasant and we need to fight it somehow.”

John Dalhuisen added:

“The Russian authorities have another chance to right the wrongs they have committed against the Pussy Riot members with an upcoming supervisory hearing and parole hearings for Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina. They must take the opportunity to unconditionally release both women.”