On the Right of Peaceful Assembly in Russia
As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Kate M. Byrnes
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
June 22, 2017
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In line with OSCE commitments, the United States strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of peaceful protesters throughout Russia on June 12.
The continued arbitrary detention of an estimated 1,700 peaceful protesters, human rights observers, and journalists with the obvious purpose of deterring public gatherings, however peaceful they may be, and of chilling open political debate and the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, is an affront to core democratic values and OSCE commitments.
The United States continues to monitor the situation, and calls on the government of Russia to ensure timely legal process, and the release without delay of all peaceful protesters still detained.
The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve a government that supports an open marketplace of ideas, transparent and accountable governance, equal treatment under the law, and the ability to exercise their rights without intimidation or retribution.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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