Secretary of State Clinton Should Demonstrate U.S. Support for Threatened Russian Human Rights Defenders in Forthcoming Moscow Visit

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New York City – Human Rights First said today that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s upcoming visit to Moscow from October 12 – 14 offers an opportunity for her to demonstrate the U.S. government’s support for threatened Russian human rights defenders. The group called on Secretary Clinton to meet with leading Russian activists in person, and to publicly call on Russian government leaders to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of human rights activists.

Human Rights First noted Secretary Clinton should inquire about a number of specific investigations, including those into the murders of Natalya Estermirova, Stanislav Markelov and Anna Politkovskaya. Estemirova was abducted on her way to work at the Grozny office of the leading Russian human rights organization Memorial in July 2009.  Human rights lawyer Markelov was gunned down in downtown Moscow in January 2009. Nearly three years to the day before Secretary Clinton’s upcoming visit, prominent investigative journalist and human rights activist Politkovskaya was gunned down in a contract-style killing. Those responsible for planning and carrying out this murder have yet to be identified and brought to justice.

On Wednesday, the State Department released remarks from Secretary Clinton marking the Third Anniversary of the Death of Anna Politkovskaya, a step Human Rights First welcomed while noting that such remarks will carry much more weight if they are delivered by the Secretary in Moscow and if the cases of murdered activists are raised during meetings with Russian leaders.

“Failure to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for violent attacks against human rights defenders only leads to more attacks and more violence. This has a chilling effect on the legitimate activities of human rights activists in Russia,” said Neil Hicks, Human Rights First International Policy Advisor.

“By meeting with activists, especially those connected to efforts to monitor human rights violations and promote respect for human rights in the troubled North Caucasus region, Secretary Clinton can provide a degree of protection and invaluable moral support to threatened activists who are even more vulnerable to attack when the international community is not paying attention,” added Hicks.

A disturbing pattern of threats and assaults against human rights activists in Russia has emerged over the past few years. No perpetrators have been brought to justice in a series of high-profile killings of journalists and activists, and threats against nonviolent government critics of all kinds have escalated. Russian authorities have also increased bureaucratic and legal harassment of human rights organizations by launching investigations and prosecutions, disrupting public events, and carrying out raids and searches on flimsy grounds. The state-controlled media periodically defames human rights activists, accusing them of being spies, terrorist sympathizers, or extremists.

Human Rights First notes that these measures obstruct and undermine the legitimate work of human rights activists and stifle peaceful dissent. As a State Party to binding treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, the Russian Federation is obligated to safeguard the right to life and security of person of everyone. Threats and violent assaults against human rights activists, whether from agents of the state, hired hit men or neo-Nazi youth groups, have a negative impact on the human rights of all Russians .

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