Parliament demands more EU support to oppressed Russian civil society

With today's adoption of a resolution on the rule of law in Russia by the European Parliament, Greens/EFA foreign affairs spokesperson Werner Schulz commented:

"The resolution revealed the alarming deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia after the retaking of office by Vladimir Putin. The Parliament takes a clear stance towards recent massive repression of civil society activists and democratic opposition. The Russian so called "foreign agent" law on foreign funding of civil society is a direct attack on the EUs financial support to Russian NGOs. It alleges that the Nobel Peace Prize winner EU maintains a network of spies in Russia.

The European Union may not continue with its strategy of diplomatic reservation and has to assume responsibility. The EU must commit to clear messages and demands at government level. Europe must not shy away from more active support for Russian civil society with financial resources, but also with a Europe-wide agreement on the recognition of political asylum for Russian civil rights activists.

In today's resolution the EP denies visa free travel for Russian officials against the background of the unresolved Magnitsky case and other severe human rights violations. Under current circumstances we will be unable to support any visa facilitation agreements with Russia and will advocate the Parliament to refuse its consent, unless the Council adopts an EU Magnitsky law".

Joint EP-resolution