Member of feminist rock group Pussy Riot denied parole
May 23, 2013
A Russian court on Thursday denied parole for Maria Alekhina, a member of the feminist rock band Pussy Riot. Band members Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich were sentenced to two years in prison for "hooliganism," characterized by the court as driven by religious hatred, in....... [more] 
EU concerned over Russia human rights record
May 20, 2013
The EU expressed concern with Russia's human rights record Sunday, focusing on the country's recent adoption of restrictive legislation, the prosecution of political activists and efforts towards establishing an independent judiciary. At the human rights consultation in Brussels the EU confirmed its....... [more]
UK judge upholds request to withhold evidence in Russian spy death investigation
May 19, 2013
A senior judge for the Judiciary of England and Wales on Friday partially upheld a request by British Foreign Secretary William Hague to withhold certain information from the investigation into the 2006 death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. Litvinenko was a member of the Federal Security Servi....... [more]
UN experts urge Russia to revise 'foreign agents' law
May 16, 2013
Three UN independent experts on Tuesday urged authorities in Russia to revise a law that is having "obstructive, intimidating and stigmatizing effects" on the country's non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and non-commercial organizations (NCOs). The law, adopted in November, requires NGOs and NCO....... [more]
The Law of Non-Commercial Organizations: "Foreign Agents"
May 10, 2013
JURIST Guest Columnist Shubin Nikita, Russian State University for the Humanities, Law Faculty, explores a new amendment to Russian law affecting non-commercial organizations...On November 21, 2012, Federal Law 121-FL came into force in Russia. This law works to amend various legislative acts, such....... [more]
UN rights expert urges Russia to ensure independent judiciary
April 28, 2013
The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, urged Russia on Thursday to address concerns surrounding impartiality in the judicial system, while noting the positive strides taken recently. Knaul visited Russia as part of an investigation surrounding a report o....... [more]
Member of Russia feminist rock group denied parole
April 27, 2013
A Russian court on Friday denied a request for parole by Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, a member of the feminist rock band Pussy Riot, so that she could look after her young daughter. In August Tolokonnikova and two other members of the group were sentenced to two years in prison for "hooliganism," charac....... [more]
Rights groups criticize Russia laws restricting free speech
April 25, 2013
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday criticized for limiting freedom of speech since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency. HRW's report calls the restrictive laws "unprecedented" in Russia's post-Soviet history. Amnesty International's report focused on the multiple n....... [more]
Russia court grants citizens right to contest election results
April 23, 2013
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation (RCC) ruled Monday that Russian citizens have the right to challenge parliamentary election results in court within the particular constituency where they originally cast their votes. Last May Russia's Human Rights Ombudsmen, Vladimir Lukin filed....... [more]
Russia lower house approves bill criminalizing actions against religious groups
April 11, 2013
The Russian State Duma on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that criminalizes negative actions towards religious groups and imposes stiff prison terms and fines on offenders. The legislation criminalizes blasphemy, including the public insulting and humiliating of religious rites and group....... [more]
Putin signs law giving him authority to select candidates for regional elections
April 2, 2013
Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a law on Tuesday giving him the authority to select candidates for regional elections. Under the new law, Putin will have the ability to submit three candidates to legislature for approval for any of the country's 83 regions. This structure can be used to ci....... [more]
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