On October 17, 120 civil society organizations, 16 media outlets, and 4 individuals will submit an appeal against the so-called “Russian Law” to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Their statement declares:
“The Russian Law not only aims to restrict civil society and media but also serves to isolate citizens from each other and suppress critical voices. The complainant organizations work on various social issues, including environmental protection, assistance for persons with disabilities, protection of women and children from violence, judicial reform, anti-corruption efforts, investigative journalism, and more.”
The organizations cite violations of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including:
• Freedom of assembly and association (Article 11)
• Freedom of expression (Article 10)
• Right to respect for private and family life (Article 8)
• Prohibition of discrimination (Article 14)
• Right to an effective remedy (Article 13)
• Limitation on use of restrictions on rights (Article 18)
“Combating independent organizations using Russian methods not only infringes on fundamental human rights but also undermines the Georgian people’s unwavering choice regarding integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. It is regrettable that the constitutional obligation to protect all these civilizational choices, which is incumbent upon state bodies, is being violated by the very governmental institutions, while the Constitutional Court refuses to fulfill its duty,” the statement says.
The organizations have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights following the Georgian Constitutional Court’s refusal to suspend the so-called “Russian Law” – read more.
