On 11 June 2012, the day before a planned protest meeting by Russian opposition groups, investigators searched the homes of opposition activists in Moscow. The homes raided by Russian Federal Investigative Committee included those of lawyer and anti-corruption blogger Alexey Navalny, radical Left Front coordinator Sergey Udaltsov and liberal Solidarnost movement leader Ilya Yashin.

Officially, the searches were carried out in connection with the investigation into the events that occurred in Moscow on May 6, the eve of Putin's inauguration as president. Twelve people have been detained to date as part of the investigation. Opposition members were summoned for questioning by the Russian Investigative Committee at 11 in the morning on 12 June.

That was precisely the date on which the opposition had planned to carry out its latest round of protests. The actions of the Russian authorities appear to have been an attempt to preempt those protests and to discourage the opposition from holding further street protests against the President.

Given the above, does the Commission intend to intervene in this matter and to voice its resolute opposition to these restrictions on the rights of Russian citizens to free speech and assembly?