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Russia: arbitrary detentions and forcible conscriptions of peaceful protesters

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre (HRDC Memorial) strongly condemn the crackdown following nationwide protests across Russia on 21 September to oppose “partial mobilisation” announced by Vladimir Putin. Mass arbitrary arrests of peaceful demonstrators, with some of the detainees directly conscripted into the military, are incompatible with respect for fundamental civil and political rights.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre (HRDC Memorial) urge Russia to liberate all peaceful protesters detained in connection with the 21 September 2022 protests, drop all charges against them, and allow its citizens to freely exercise their fundamental rights, including freedom of assembly, expression, and the right not to be arbitrarily detained. The two organisations further call on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HCR) to adopt a resolution creating a mandate of UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation at the upcoming 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council.