麻豆社

Russia is closing the offices of 15 Western NGOs, including two leading rights organisations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

The Russian Ministry of Justice said the decision was taken due to Russian laws being violated, without providing details.

Russia tightened its already restrictive media laws after invading Ukraine by introducing a new one which threatens to jail anyone the authorities deem to have spread "fake" news about the armed forces.

Rachel Denber is deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Division and set up their Moscow office more than 30 years ago. Were they given a specific reason for its closure?

"Human Rights Watch received no reason for the closure," she tells us. "There really is little doubt... that it's just part of the government's multi-year efforts to stifle all critical, all independent voices in Russia."

"Human Rights Watch will continue to work on Russia. Human Rights Watch was born during the Soviet era. Not having an office in Russia is not going to stop us from documenting human rights violations and pushing for Russia to uphold its international human rights obligations."

Photo shows: Russian Police officers detain a man holding a poster that reads: "No war" during an unsanctioned protest rally at Manezhnaya Square in front of the Kremlin, March,13,2022. Credit: Getty Images

Show less