The Yabloko party expresses deep concern over the persecution of the human rights organisation Memorial in the North Caucasus.

Statement by the Yabloko party, 17.01.2018

On 9 January, Oyub Titiyev, head of the Chechen branch of the Memorial [human rights society] was detained on charges of possession of drugs. Today it has become known about the arson of the organisation’s office in Ingushetia. A year ago, Yury Dmitriyev, head of the Karelian Memorial was arrested. We assume that these events are interrelated and result from the state’ policies targeted against the human rights community and civil society in general.

The state declared a war on an organisation defending Russian citizens and resisting the revival of Stalinism in Russia.

Fight against “foreign agents”, reprisals against human rights defenders and activists, fabrication of criminal cases and encouragement of extrajudicial executions, – all this became part of the state policies conducted by the present authorities.

We demand that Oyub Titiyev is immediately released, that the rights and legitimate interests of the human rights defender and his family members, their lives, health and personal security are adequately protected.

We insist on a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arson of the Memorial office in Ingushetia.

The authorities of Chechnya must stop the shameful attempts of exerting pressure on human rights activists and their relatives.

The country’s leadership must do everything necessary for the normal and productive work of public organisations in Russia.

Emilia Slabunova,

Chair of the Yabloko party