The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OMCT) has issued a press statement urging Russia to halt its designation of Indigenous Peoples’ and national minorities’ rights organizations as “extremist organizations.” This plea follows the Russian authorities’ decision on July 25 to classify 55 such human rights groups as extremists.
The Russian authorities justified their classification under the guise of compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling, which bans actions deemed part of an “Anti-Russian Separatist Movement” aimed at destroying the multinational unity and territorial integrity of Russia. Alleged involvement in this movement could lead to sentences of up to six years in prison. However, Human Rights Watch stated that participating in or financing an extremist organization could result in even harsher penalties, up to 12 years in prison.
The targeted human rights groups have been pivotal in combating the ongoing oppression of Indigenous peoples in Russia, who, according to the OMCT, suffer infringements of their civil rights. These include restrictions on freedom of expression, the right to self-determination, and cultural rights. Systemic issues such as racism, structural discrimination, and xenophobia are prevalent. Notably, larger Indigenous groups like the Yakut (Sakha) and Komi people are classified as “ethnic minorities” or “titular nations,” resulting in their populations exceeding 50,000 not being officially recognized. These groups have also faced specific targeting in Russian mobilization efforts.
One of the organizations listed as extremists is Aborigen-Forum, which actively works against these mobilization efforts.
In December 2023, Russian authorities similarly targeted LGBTQ+ individuals by classifying the “international LGBT movement” as extremist, effectively banning any LGBTQ+ activities in the country. This repressive measure drew significant international condemnation.
For further details, you can read the full statement from OMCT here.
Read the full article on JURIST here.