MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
24.4.2007
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Alexander Lambsdorff, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the repression of the 14-15 April opposition demonstrations in Moscow and St. Petersburg
B6‑0175/2007
European Parliament resolution on the repression of the 14-15 April opposition demonstrations in Moscow and St. Petersburg
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Russian police brutally broke up demonstrations of opposition parties and groups in Moscow and St Petersburg on 14 and 15 April 2007 and detained some of the leaders and participants in these demonstrations and whereas similar events had previously occurred in Nizhny Novgorod,
B. whereas the right of free assembly is a fundamental part of democratic principles and human rights standards that Russia has committed itself to uphold and repeatedly expressed its commitment to; these principles and values are also the base for the strategic partnership between the European Union and Russia,
C. whereas these latest repressive measures against opposition parties are part of a worrying trend to clamp-down on civil society, to impose Kremlin control of the media, increased political control of the judiciary and other restrictive measures aimed at limiting dissent in any form, including the stifling of open debate in the Duma,
1. Strongly condemns the violent measures aimed at the peaceful demonstrations by the opposition in Moscow and St Petersburg and the brutality and excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators and journalists, including correspondents from EU Member States;
2. Expects the Russian authorities to fully investigate these events and to bring to justice any violations of the freedom of assembly and the freedom of expression or any other violation of the political rights enshrined in the Russian constitution and legislation;
3. Calls on the Russian leadership to do its utmost to avoid any repetition of these regrettable events, in particular in the run-up to the next Presidential and Duma elections and to guarantee all political parties and movements a chance to take part in the democratic process; calls on the Central Election Commission and on the Russian judiciary to be vigilant, objective and impartial in scrutinising the campaign and election processes;
4. Underlines that the violent measures taken against opposition parties and movements and civil society threaten Russia's democratic development and the legitimacy of the Russian leadership, inside and outside the country; points out that such a development would be detrimental to the further development of a true partnership between the European Union and Russia and weaken Russia's international position at a time when Russia's growing economy, the interdependence between the European Union and Russia and the many common global challenges would necessitate a true partnership;
5. Aligns itself with the concern voiced by the EU Presidency as regards the dispersal of the demonstrations and calls on the Presidency and the Council and Commission to bring up these issues at the next meeting of the regular human rights dialogue between the European Union and Russia, scheduled for 3 May and at the EU-Russia summit in Samara on 18 May;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States and the Parliament and Government of the Russian Federation.