Thank you, Special Rapporteur.

Your report’s findings are stark and damning. Highlighting a ‘seismic decline’ in the human rights situation. Repression at home, aggression abroad.

The Kremlin claims to be acting for the benefit of the Russian people but crushes dissent, persecutes minorities and uses repressive legislation to consolidate a climate of fear. All to serve its own interests.

Russia must release all political prisoners, including those who have bravely opposed the invasion of Ukraine. You highlight that in the first half of the year 20 to 30 percent of all those in pre-trial detention were political prisoners. Civil society activists, human rights defenders and journalists are serving lengthy prison sentences. Lawyers are also increasingly targeted for simply representing th

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