Päätöslauselmaesitys - B6-0178/2007Päätöslauselmaesitys
B6-0178/2007
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24.4.2007

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Konrad Szymański, Adam Bielan, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Ryszard Czarnecki, Inese Vaidere, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski, Wojciech Roszkowski, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, Gintaras Didžiokas
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the 14-15 April opposition demonstrations in Moscow and St. Petersburg

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.
Menettely : 2007/2551(RSP)
Elinkaari istunnossa
Asiakirjan elinkaari :  
B6-0178/2007
Käsiteltäväksi jätetyt tekstit :
B6-0178/2007
Äänestykset :
Hyväksytyt tekstit :

B6‑0178/2007

European Parliament resolution on the 14-15 April opposition demonstrations in Moscow and St. Petersburg

The European Parliament,

­  having regard to Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights and Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights,

­  having regard to Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966,

­  having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

­  having regard to the objectives of consolidating democracy and political freedoms in the Russian Federation laid down in the EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation agreement and to the negotiations on a new agreement,

­  having regard to its previous resolutions and declarations concerning breaches of human rights in Russia and EU-Russia relations,

­  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.   whereas the right of peaceful assembly is guaranteed in the Constitution of the Russian Federation and international conventions signed by Russia,

B.   whereas as a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe Russia has undertaken to respect freedom of speech and assembly,

C.   whereas freedom of expression and of assembly belong to the fundamental rights of the European Union and are also the most effective means of fighting oppression and key yardsticks by which to judge whether a society is democratic and open,

D.  whereas democracy has been weakened in Russia, in particular by the bringing of all major TV stations and most radio stations under government control, the spread of self-censorship among the print media, new restrictions on the right to organise public demonstrations and worsening climate for NGOs,

E.  whereas this so-called Dissenters' March was organized by Another Russia, an umbrella organisation including opponents of Putin and his government,

F.  whereas the 2000 protesters found themselves outnumbered more than four to one by security forces which quickly dispersed the activists, beating and briefly detaining those who sought to break through the riot-control lines,

G.  whereas although the demonstrators did not use any violence, many of them had to seek medical treatment for injuries' sustained from being beaten by the police,

H.  whereas among the at least 250 detained protesters were the leader of the United Civic Front, former world chess champion and a Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov and Maria Gaidar, the daughter of Russia's first post-Soviet reformist prime minister; former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov only avoided arrest because his bodyguards helped him to escape; many journalists, including ARD correspondent Stephan Stuchlik, who tried to capture the events and disseminate them to the West, were also beaten and arrested,

I.  whereas on 15 April another protest, involving hundreds of demonstrators and organised by the same grouping, was dispersed in St. Petersburg in an even more brutal way than in Moscow,

J.   whereas Vladimir Lukin, Russia's human rights ombudsman, said that he believed police in both cities had exceeded their authority and whereas Valentina Matviyenko, the governor of St. Petersburg, ordered a probe into human rights violations at the rally in St. Petersburg,

K  whereas previous protests were also dispersed by riot police or broken up by mass arrests,

1.  Strongly condemns the violence of the Russian police during last weekend's peaceful demonstrations in Moscow and St. Petersburg and calls on the Russian authorities to comply with their international obligations and to respect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly;

2.  Condemns in particular the repressive actions used by the security forces against journalists doing their professional duty; considers such assaults on the media as unacceptable in a democratic state of law;

3.  Expresses its concern about the apparent weakening of Russia’s commitment to democracy, market economy and protection of human rights; regrets restrictions on the operation of free and independent media;

4.  Calls on the Russian authorities to order a probe into human rights violations at both rallies and to identify and punish those responsible;

5.  Calls on the Russian State Duma to set up a commission to investigate why such excessive force was used against peaceful demonstrators;

6.  Calls on the Council and the Commission to lodge a protest with the Russian authorities and to raise the issue of respect of basic freedoms at its next regular meeting with Russian officials;

7.  Repeatedly urges the Commission in the new Partnership and Co-operation Agreement with Russia to set down clearer obligations and more efficient monitoring mechanisms, in addition to the human rights clause, in order to achieve a real improvement in the human rights situation in this country;

8.  Emphasizes that, in order to achieve visible progress in the situation of democracy in Russia, the EU common policy and Member States' bilateral relations with Russia should be guided by jointly agreed principles and common position;

9.  Is deeply disturbed by an emerging pattern of use of force and violence by the Russian authorities towards opposition activists as an element of the political system, which raises deep concern about the situation of democracy and the respect of human rights in the Russian Federation;

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Government and the Parliament of the Russian Federation.

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