Russian Federation Human Rights
Human Rights Concerns
Oksana Chelysheva and Jennifer Latheef discuss the impact that Amnesty International supporters make in their lives by writing letters on their behalf. |
Almost 15 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation is still far from the democracy many hoped it would become. Since coming into office in 1999, president Vladimir Putin has consolidated executive power, eliminating the election of regional governors, squashing freedom of press, harassing human rights defenders, and continually abusing civilians in the guise of a war on terror in the North Caucasus. In addition, the harsh economic and social transition has given rise to increasing domestic violence and racial hate crimes. Speaking in Washington, D.C. in October 2005, Moscow Helsinki Group founder Liudmilla Alexeevna warned that she hoped there would be no "color" revolution in Russia soon, because it would more likely be brown than orange.
Anna Politkovskaya Internationally renowned journalist Anna Politkovskaya was found shot to death in the elevator of her apartment building in Moscow on October 7. Amnesty International believes she was targeted because of her reporting on human rights violations related to Chechnya and other Russian regions. Her murder is a serious blow to freedom of expression and the independence of the media in Russia. Call on President Putin to condemn the murder, to protect journalists, and to investigate and prosecute her murder thoroughly. Read more »
Download the petition: PDF »
Amnesty International is particularly concerned about the human rights abuses in conjunction with the war in Chechnya and the "war on terror." In September of 2005, Amnesty conducted a mission to the North Caucasus to investigate human rights in the region. They found that Russia's "war on terror" is being used as an excuse for systematic human rights abuses. Russian authorities are implicated in the torture, abduction, and secret detention of civilians.
In addition, Amnesty is concerned for the rights of Russian human rights defenders. Several organizations have faced harassment from both authorities and civilians in their efforts to speak up about human rights abuses in the country.
Finally, Amnesty continues to campaign against domestic violence and rampant racial discrimination in the Russian Federation.
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