Human Rights First Calls on Russian Authorities to Stop Muzzling Civil Society

WASHINGTON D.C. – Human Rights First expressed its grave concern about the March 1 decision by Russian authorities to take the independent radio station “Echo of Moscow” off the air and its outrage at the Russian government’s broader campaign of arresting Russians who are protesting their government’s war on Ukraine.

“As with so many of its abuses, the Russian government’s brutal invasion of Ukraine would not have been possible if the government were accountable to its people and respectful of internationally-recognized human rights norms,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Mike Breen. 

“Independent reporting and public protest are essential to creating that accountability.  We are alarmed to see that the Russian government is muzzling the country’s independent media and civil society voices and jailing their citizens because it cannot defend its appalling actions.”