Merci Monsieur President, and welcome to the Special Rapporteur.
Let me thank her for her report this morning. It’s a sobering picture in which she depicts a worsening human rights situation.
And it’s clear what we’ve seen over the last year is a widespread and systemic application of oppressive legislation to further strengthen the Russian state’s oppressive hold over its own population and society. Just over that last year, it’s intensified its persecution of anyone it deems to be a political opponent. And it seems to be seeing enemies everywhere in Russian society, creating a climate of fear and making examples of specific individuals to intimidate the wider population.
Special Rapporteur, you noted in particular the deterioration of treatment of political prisoners. Of course, Alexei Navalny’s tragic death was a stark reminder to us all of the risks faced by those brave individuals who speak out against the Kremlin. The Russian state has to meet its international obligations and we in the UK will continue to hold those responsible for the violations of such obligations to account.
Mr President, Russia’s repression domestically both enables and is driven by its aggression abroad, and the international community must hold Russia to account for violations of human rights both domestically and internationally.
Evidencing the scale of human rights violations is key. So we support your request, Special Rapporteur, to travel to Russia as part of your mandate and we welcome your suggestions this afternoon in how we might support you.
