MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Ildar Dadin, prisoner of consience in Russia
22.11.2016 - (2016/2992(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Rebecca Harms, Heidi Hautala, Tamás Meszerics, Indrek Tarand, Barbara Lochbihler, Igor Šoltes on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-1261/2016
B8‑1261/2016
European Parliament resolution on the case of Ildar Dadin, prisoner of consience in Russia
The European Parliament,
- Having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia and in particular the one of 10 June 2015 on the state of EU-Russia relations and the one of 10 September 2015 on Russia - in particular the case of Eston Kohver, Oleg Sentzov, and Alexander Kolchenko,
-Having regard to the conclusions of the European Union–Russian Federation human rights consultations, 28 November 2013,
-having regard to the right of peaceful assembly, which is enshrined in the Russian Constitution as well as in the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), treaties to which the Russian Federation is a party,
- having regard to its Rule 135(5) of the Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas on 7 December 2015 Ildar Dadin, a peaceful street protester, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by a Moscow court for repeated anti-government street protests; whereas Dadin is the first person in Russia to be convicted under a draconian public assembly legislation, adopted in 2014, which increased fines and imposed criminal sanctions on those who repeatedly violate the rules for public gatherings,
B. Whereas Dadin’s sentence was reduced on appeal to 2.5 years; whereas under Russian law, one-person protests do not require prior authorities’ approval,
C. Whereas in a meeting with his lawyer at the end of October 2016, Dadin alleged that he was beaten and tortured by prison staff and said that he feared for his life,
D. Whereas once this information became public, several other prisoners alleged beatings as well; whereas the administration of the penal colony where Dadin is serving his sentence, pledged to investigate the allegations,
E. Whereas ECHR approved the request of Dadin’s lawyer and obliged the Russian Federation to ensure effective investigation, move Ildar to a different penitentiary place and to ensure his communication with his representative,
F. Whereas on 3 November Thorbjorn Jaggland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, expressed his concern about the allegations of ill-treatment of Dadin to Alexander Konovaliov, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation,
G. Whereas the Russian authorities have opened similar criminal proceedings against several other people who carried out one-person protests like, for example, Vladimir Ionov, an outspoken critic of Russia’s role in Eastern Ukraine,
H. Whereas on 26 October a Moscow court imposed a fine of 300,000 roubles on Yuriy Levada Analytical Centre (Levada Centre), one of the three major organisations studying public opinion in Russia, because it had failed to register as a "foreign agent",
I. Whereas at the beginning of October the Justice Ministry put the Memorial society, an international historical, educational, charitable and human rights organisation, on the list of foreign agents; whereas Memorial has appealed the decision considering it illegal,
J. Whereas the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, cancelled his visit to Russia scheduled for the second half of October due to unacceptable restrictions imposed by the Russian authorities on his visit aimed at discussing human rights violations with human rights activists and government officials,
K. Whereas in October European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found Russia guilty of violating several articles of the European Convention with respect to opposition activist Garry Kasparov who had complained that in 2007 his right to liberty and personal inviolability and the right to freedom of assembly had been violated by law enforcers,
L. Whereas President Putin has recently signed an order, according to which Russia refuses to take part in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC); whereas in a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the Court's work as "inefficient and one-sided" and expressed concern over the ICC's investigation of the August 2008 events in South Ossetia,
M. Whereas these facts take place in the Russian Federation in a context of repression, which has again been further reinforced with the introduction of two new pieces of legislation providing police and security forces with new means to suppress and repress social dissent,
1. Calls on the Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ildar Dadin, unfairly and unjustly convicted for participation in “unauthorized” assemblies;
2. Urges the Russian authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation of Dadin’s allegations of torture and ill-treatment with the participation of independent human rights experts;
3. Expresses its deep concern at the credible reports indicating that torture and other ill treatment are being widely used in the Russian penal system with impunity, with the aim of silencing any form of dissent and urges the Russian authorities to put an end to this practice;
4. Calls on the Russian Federation to carry out a thorough review of its penitentiary system with a view to undertaking a deep reform of this sector;
5. Believes that the respect for human rights, democratic principles and fundamental freedoms should be at the core of the framework for relations between the EU and the Russian Federation as well as for bilateral cooperation in international fora and organisations;
6. Condemns the judicial harassment of Levada Centre and Memorial and calls for the full restoration of their status of non-governmental organisation enabling them to operate freely and exercise their activities without restrictions and discriminating labels;
7. Calls upon the government of Russia to take concrete and immediate steps to comply with all the judgements against Russia of the European Court of Human Rights;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EEAS, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation.