The Russian Federation: Latest assessment of the implementation of the Human Rights Committee Recommendations

Adopted during the 119th session (March 2017)

The Committee requests specific information on the number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions for serious human rights violations in the North Caucasus area (C). It is regrettable that the state denies the practice of collective punishment of relatives and suspected supporters of terrorists (C).

The Committee expresses serious concerns regarding the chilling effect on the freedom of expression. Some laws should be revised or even repealed to be compliant with the Covenant and the state should adopt clearer and narrower definitions of key concepts in those laws. Firstly, the state should consider the decriminalization of defamation and provide information on the convictions (B). Secondly, the definition of treason should be brought in compliance with the Covenant (C). Thirdly, blasphemy laws should be repealed (C). Fourthly, more information is needed on the federal law authorizing emergency orders without a court decision to block websites (C). Fifthly, the Committee is concerned about the criminalization of the dissemination of deliberately false statements concerning the actions of the Soviet Union during the Second World War (C). Lastly, it is regrettable that the state did not provide information on the law regulating the activities of blogs (C).

The Committee remains concerned that the law on non-commercial organizations does not clarify the concept of political activity consistently with the Covenant. It requires clarification on measures to bring the law in compliance with the Covenant (C). The Committee regrets that the draft law banning undesirable foreign companies was signed and entered into force. It asks more information concerning its compatibility with the Covenant (C).