As of: 04/09/2022 4:47 p.m
“Ruthless repression,” a “step toward totalitarianism”: The ban on NGOs and foundations in Russia has been sharply criticized by the federal government, the EU, and organizations. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty plan to continue their work on the ground.
The ban on several international human rights organizations and German party-affiliated foundations in Russia has drawn harsh criticism. The Russian government is showing the world its true colors once once more, said a spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office.
“With targeted bans and censorship, all voices that work for transparency and truth, justice, human rights and democracy are consistently silenced – at the expense of the Russian people.” The “ruthless suppression of dissent within Russia” is a reflection of the Russian regime’s aggression towards the outside world.
criticism from the EU
The European Union also reacted to the decision. “Nothing in the activities of these organizations, which focus on protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, justifies such a step,” said the European External Action Service in Brussels. With the ban, the Russian political leadership continues to deny the people the right to freedom of expression and freedom of thought.
The Ministry of Justice in Moscow had previously stated that the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, among others, had had their registration withdrawn. The human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are also accused of alleged “violations of the applicable legislation of the Russian Federation”. A total of 15 organizations are affected.
“Step from authoritarianism to totalitarianism”
The board of directors of the FDP-affiliated Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Berlin had previously spoken of a further step “from authoritarianism to totalitarianism”. The chairman of the left faction in the Bundestag, Dietmar Bartsch, called it “a fatal signal”. In view of Putin’s terrible war, Russia and Europe must do everything possible to stay in dialogue.
The Greens also condemned the Kremlin’s actions. Group leader Britta Haßelmann said that Putin fears organizations and foundations “because they create spaces for exchange, denounce human rights violations, bring facts and truth behind the Kremlin’s propaganda façade to light and support civil society commitment.”
Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said the organizations were “punished for defending human rights and telling the truth to the Russian authorities”. However, the government in Moscow is wrong if it believes that by closing the Moscow office it will be able to prevent Amnesty from “documenting and uncovering human rights violations”.
Human Rights Watch expressed a similar view. Since the beginning of the Russian war once morest Ukraine, Moscow has been trying harder to silence critical voices. Human Rights Watch has been active in Russia for 30 years, “and we will continue our work,” the organization announced. “This new Iron Curtain will not stop us from defending the rights of all Russians and protecting civilians in Ukraine,” said director Kenneth Roth.
