Inside Geneva: the future of human rights in Russia

Keystone

It’s more than a year and a half since Russia invaded Ukraine. The war shows no sign of ending, and Moscow is cracking down on all opposition. 

This week, Inside Geneva asks how we can support human rights inside Russia.

“Since the full scale invasion of Ukraine had been launched in February of last year, the regime has brought back the entire arsenal of Soviet style repressive techniques, used to eradicate all dissent within the country, and scare people into silence,” says Evgenia Kara-Murza, Russian human rights defender. 

Supporting dissent in Russia is important for all of us.

Host Imogen Foulkes also talks to Mariana Katzarova, UN special rapporteur for Russia. She said: “I do care what kind of Russia will be there next to our borders of Europe and of Eastern Europe. Whether it will be a black hole where people will be disappearing, being tortured, being arbitrarily detained.” 

“I have a message for the international community: please see us as your partners. We want a different Russia, a Russia based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. That is our goal,” concludes Evgenia Kara-Murza. 

But how far away is that goal? How long will it take to reach it?

Louis Charbonneau, United Nations director at Human Rights Watch says: “It takes a lot of effort to suppress the truth, to destroy and muzzle every possible critic, and to circulate absurd propaganda the way the Russian government does. It takes a lot of energy. Time is against the oppressors like Vladimir Putin, like Xi Jinping, and others. They will not last, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not in store for a rough ride.”

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