Press Release, 13.12.2022

Photo by the Yabloko branch in Chuvashia

A round table dedicated to the International Human Rights Day was held at the National Library of Chuvashia on 10 December. The event was organised by the Chuvash republican public organisation Oscheye Delo (Common Cause). Members of the regional branch of the Yabloko party took an active part in the work of the round table.

Chairman of the regional branch Vyacheslav Arkadyev noted in his speech that it had become much more difficult for citizens to express their opinion, participate in rallies and pickets.

Lawyer Vyacheslav Medvedev drew the attention of the audience to the decree of the head of Chuvashia, which, with reference to a special provision, prohibits street actions. In fact, this decree violates the norms of the Russian Constitution and federal legislation, Medvedev said.

Kirill Milyukhin, a journalist and security expert, spoke about the prosecution of bloggers and opposition politicians. “The punishment for the so-called “fake information” amounts to up to 8.5 years in prison, and the punishment for the murder of a person is only up to seven years,” Miliukhin noted.

Gennady Mandreykin, a PARNAS representative, drew the attention of the audience to the problems of voters’ rights. According to him, the Central Electoral Commission had not considered the appeal on direct elections of heads of municipal administrations sent to the commission long ago. Consolidation of municipalities would lead to the reduction of deputies in rural settlements, who were the conductors of the will of ordinary rural residents, Mandreykin said.

Representatives of the Yabloko party identified two more serious problems with the rights of voters – electronic and multi-day voting, which enable the authorities to manipulate the election results.

Summing up the results of the round table, the participants of the meeting noted the need to join their efforts in the protection of human rights and draw public attention to this problem.

It should also be noted that the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Chuvashia, invited to the round table, did not respond to the organisers’ appeal.