The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi, took the floor today during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, in the framework of the 54th session of the Human Rights Council.
“Italy strongly welcomes the first report of the Special Rapporteur, which documents in details, despite the regrettable lack of cooperation by the Russian authorities, the substantial deterioration of the human rights situation and the rule of law in the Russian Federation, further exacerbated after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine”, stated the Permanent Representative. He added that “The report confirms the alarming pattern of systematic restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, in line with the findings of the 2022 report of the Moscow Mechanism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the concerns expressed by other international and regional human rights mechanisms”.
“Italy condemns the crackdown on civil society and independent media and the severe curtailment of the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, as well as the lack of independence of the judiciary and fair trial guarantees”, Ambassador Grassi stated further, while also calling on the Russian Federation “to abolish its oppressive legislation, release all prisoners detained on political motivated charges and ensure a safe environment for all human rights defenders, journalists, political opposition and persons in vulnerable situations, in line with its obligations”.
In conclusion the Permanent Representative affirmed that “these developments require continued monitoring and increased scrutiny by the OHCHR and other human rights mechanisms and clearly warrant the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur”.
Read the full statement here.
