Russia’s Crackdown on People’s Rights: Shutting Down Free Speech and Activism

 

New York, August 7, 2024 – Ever since Russia went all-in on invading Ukraine back in February 2022, it’s been throwing down some seriously harsh laws that are basically trying to squash any dissent. Human Rights Watch has put out a new report, “Russia’s Legislative Nightmare: The Chilling Effect on Civil Society Since 2020,” that shows just how much the government has been bulldozing over people’s basic freedoms.

This report is a big deal, coming in at 205 pages, and it’s all about how the Russian government has been throwing its weight around to keep civil society in check. This has been going on for a solid decade, with laws that are basically like a boa constrictor for free speech, getting tighter and tighter.

The Squeeze on Regular Folks’ Freedoms

Back in 2012, Russia brought in this law that was supposed to target NGOs, calling them “foreign agents,” but now it’s like they’re throwing that label at anyone who says something they don’t like. If you’re a journalist or someone who’s not toeing the party line, you could get slapped with fines, or even thrown in jail. And if you’re a naturalized citizen, they might even take away your citizenship. By 2022-2023, it got so bad that these so-called “foreign agents” were pretty much kicked out of public life, like they couldn’t even work for the government or be teachers.

And if you thought you could just go out and protest, think again. They’ve got this crazy strict system now where you basically need the government’s stamp of approval to do anything. Even a solo protest with just one person holding a sign can get you in hot water, treated like you’re leading a whole revolution or something.

Going After the LGBTQ+ Community and Free Speech

But it’s not just about political protests. The Kremlin’s been really coming down hard on the LGBTQ+ community too. They’ve got these new laws that basically say you can’t talk about anything queer in public, especially if kids might overhear or see it. So, goodbye to books and movies that might have some representation, because they’re now considered too spicy for Russian eyes and could get you in a world of trouble.

And in 2023, the Supreme Court went ahead and said that the whole international LGBTQ+ movement is extreme. Talk about adding fuel to the fire.

We Need Some Changes, Pronto

Human Rights Watch is saying enough is enough and wants the Russian government to get rid of these terrible laws and start playing nice with the rest of the world’s human rights rules. The report is like a big wake-up call, saying we’ve got to make sure civil society isn’t just a pipe dream, but a real thing where people can actually stand up for their rights.

Rachel Denber, who’s like the second-in-command for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch, said it’s pretty intense out there for anyone trying to make a difference. “The Russian government is turning the screws on anyone who speaks out or tries to get things done, but these groups and journalists aren’t giving up. They’re the ones keeping the hope alive for a Russia that actually cares about basic rights,” she said.

So, if you want the full lowdown, you can grab the whole report here, and if you’re into reading it in Russian, they’ve got a summary and some action points for you right here.