Maria Hurtado said in a statement that the verdict was merely “a series of actions against civil society”, journalists, other media and opposition groups as well as human rights defenders. .
MHG was founded in 1976 by prominent dissidents and has covered human rights abuses in the former Soviet Union (USSR) and later the Russian Federation, she noted. It is named after the Helsinki accord, an international agreement signed by the Government of the Soviet Union to protect fundamental rights and freedoms.
Ministry of Justice intervenes
Its closure is based on a Justice Department lawsuit alleging that the organization is only registered to protect human rights in Moscow and not in other parts of the country, arguing that it is therefore not correctly registered.
According to reports, MHG has always had broader powers and the group responded to the ruling by saying it would appeal, calling the measure “disproportionate” and vowing to continue its work.
The case against MHG is based on a Justice Department inspection last year, which the group deemed illegal.
‘National crackdown’
“The nationwide crackdown on independent journalism and dissenting voices has increased since the armed Russian Federation’s attack on Ukraine,” Ms. Hurtado said.
She added that any restrictions on freedom of opinion, freedom of expression and freedom of association – core rights in democratic societies – “must be subject to rigorous tests of integrity.” necessity and proportionality in the pursuit of a lawful end.”
Stop gagging reporters
Russian authorities should refrain from moving towards shutting down the organization or from “suffocating” serious issues in the legitimate interest of the public.
She said the Government has a responsibility to “allow debate on diverse and diverse voices, in society and in the media, in accordance with its human rights obligations.”
