Reply

8.5.2007

The Council shares the Honourable Member’s concerns about the closure of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society and the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Northern Caucasus and Russia as a whole, and keeps related developments under close scrutiny. The adoption last year of the NGO law and the anti-extremism law are of special concern to the EU.

The Council regularly raises these concerns with Russia in the framework of the EU‑Russia dialogue, at technical as well as political level (summits, ministerial meetings, as well as the twice-annual human rights consultations, which were formally introduced in March 2005 under the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU). In these Consultations, the EU regularly expresses its particular concerns about the situation of civil society. It should be noted that the Council closely involves civil society/NGOs in these consultations.

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the EU has not yet adopted the negotiating mandate for the new agreement with Russia.

At the OSCE Permanent Council's 648th meeting, the EU made the following statement on the closure of the Russian Chechen Friendship Society (1.2.2007):

‘The European Union has learnt with deep regret of the coercive closure of the Russian Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS), following the denial of an appeal by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on 23 January against a judicial order passed on 13 October 2006.

The Russian Chechen Friendship Society, laureate of the 2004 Recognition Award of the International Helsinki Federation, was one of the few remaining organisations in Russia reporting on human rights conditions in Chechnya and the Northern Caucasus. The EU has previously raised the harassment of this non-governmental organisation, inter alia in the context of the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, with whom the Russian Chechen Friendship Society had cooperated closely.

This case shows that the “Federal Law on Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” of 17 April 2006, commonly referred to as “NGO law”, as well as the “Law on Countering Extremist Activity” can be implemented in an arbitrary manner.

We are concerned that the new legislation on “extremism” — especially given the potentially wide interpretation of this legal term — might have further negative effects on the legitimate activity of civil society organisations in Russia.

The EU considers the full and practical recognition of the positive role played by NGOs and human rights defenders in promoting peaceful solutions to political and social conflicts an essential element of our shared values.

The EU takes note of the fact that NGOs have repeatedly reported about problems they face as a result of the new legislation. The EU will follow closely the implementation of these laws. We appeal to the Russian authorities to consider whether the experience so far calls for amendments to the laws or adjustments to their implementation in the light of standards and commitments undertaken in the framework of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and we stand ready to work together with the Russian Federation on this.’

OJ C 293, 05/12/2007