Russia – Condemnation of efforts to dissolve the Moscow Helsinki Group (21 December 2022)

France strongly deplores the Russian Justice Ministry’s efforts to shut down the Moscow Helsinki group, the country’s oldest human rights organization. We are closely monitoring the progress of their court order.

That order follows in the wake of numerous court proceedings against civil society organizations and activities, such as the Russian Supreme Court’s decision on December 28, 2021, to dissolve Memorial International, an NGO that promoted remembrance and human rights.

France denounces the Russian authorities’ crackdown against those who are still speaking out freely against the human rights situation in Russia and criticizing the government and its war of aggression against Ukraine. We condemn the attacks on fundamental freedoms that have multiplied in recent months and call on the Russian authorities to respect those freedoms and human rights.