8 August 2012- Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation condemns the recent surge in restrictions on civil society in Russia and urges the international community to speak out against the Russian government's disregard for international norms on the treatment of civil society.
In the past two months, Russia's government has hurried a number of regressive laws through parliament. The laws, which will come into force 120 days after they have been signed by President Vladimir Putin, will severely constrain the work of civil society and impede the exercise of the key civil society rights – of free expression, association and assembly. CIVICUS believes that the new laws are a reaction to the widespread protests at the assumption of the presidency by President Putin for a third term and allegations of misuse of state machinery.
Independent civil society groups have been critical of the rotation of offices between President Putin and Prime Minister Medvedev, which has enabled President Putin to serve a third term, as setting a bad democratic precedent for the Russian state. Such groups fear they will be targeted by state agents once the new laws come into force.
"This rash of new laws creates a web of restrictions to ensnare activists and critics of the government," says Katsuji Imata, CIVICUS' Acting Secretary General. "In its eagerness to curb all forms of dissent, Russia's government is running roughshod over established norms on how to work with civil society. The future for civic life in Russia will be bleak unless these laws are repealed."
On 30 July 2012, President Putin assented to changes in the law on "information, information technologies and information protection" which mandates the creation of a blacklist or registry of websites that contain information that is prohibited by legislation or court order. Because the law allows blacklisted websites to be shut down without a court order, civil society activists fear that government officials could interpret the law in a manner that uses it as a tool for internet censorship and curbs the freedom of expression of dissidents.
The internet censorship law closely follows the reintroduction of libel as a criminal offence in Russia, which also came in July 2012. Under the newly passed law, which is likely to inhibit media criticism of Russia's leaders, media outlets can be fined up to 2 million rubles (approximately US$61,000) for reproducing libellous public statements.
On 21 July 2012, another controversial law was passed which could have far reaching ramifications for the freedom of association in Russia. The law "Introducing Amendments to Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Part Regulating Activities of Non-commercial Organisations, which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents" requires internationally funded CSOs to label themselves as "foreign agents" if they are engaged in "political activities," a term loosely defined in the law to cover the kind of advocacy activities many civil society groups normally undertake. In addition to making internationally supported CSOs more vulnerable to the risk of targeting by right wing groups and the partisan media, the law also subjects them to increased and unwarranted official oversight and onerous auditing requirements.
On 8 June 2012, exorbitant increases to existing penalties for violating rules on participation in and organisation of public protests were enacted in Russia, creating a chilling effect on the right to peaceful assembly. Fine limits for breaching conditions on holding public assemblies were increased by 150 times for individuals and 300 times for organisations. The new maximum penalty for participation in a protest that is not in accordance with government regulations is up to 300,000 rubles (approximately US$9,000) for individuals and up to 1 million rubles (approximately US$32,000) for organisations.
In light of the Kremlin's unwillingness to listen to civil society voices in Russia, CIVICUS urges the international community to challenge the government's harsh tactics in multilateral and bilateral forums. It is critical that the Russian government abides by its international commitments to ensure public access to information and create an enabling environment for civil society. At a minimum, the following conditions should be guaranteed: freedom of association, freedom of expression, the right to operate free from unwarranted state interference, the right to communicate and cooperate, the right to seek and secure funding, and the state's duty to protect.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global movement dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society across the world. CIVICUS is a growing membership organisation. Join CIVICUS today for only US$5.