The mandate of the UN rapporteur on Russia extended

President Vladimir Putin’s Russia was widely targeted at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (archives).

Photo: KEYSTONE/EPA/KRISTINA KORMILITSYNA / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN / POOL

Russia will continue to be scrutinized by the UN Human Rights Council. He extended the mandate of the special rapporteur for one year in Geneva on Thursday.

In a resolution approved by 20 votes, 8 against and 19 abstentions, the Council once again expressed concern about indications of numerous arbitrary arrests and detentions of demonstrators. He is very concerned about the lack of independent and ‘effective’ investigation after the death this year of opponent Alexeï Navalny.

In her recent report, special rapporteur Mariana Katzarova, who does not speak on behalf of the UN, estimated that the human rights situation has further deteriorated in one year in Russia. She is particularly concerned about the violence perpetrated upon their return by detainees sent to the front in Ukraine. She is also concerned for soldiers’ wives, who could be the next victims of the authorities’ repression.

/ATS