Russia: Shrinking Space for Free Expression | Human Rights Watch
▻https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/01/12/russia-shrinking-space-free-expression
▻https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/styles/open_graph/public/multimedia_images_2016/2016-03-russia-eca-moscow_0.jpg?itok=XCoLzPYe
(Moscow) – The Russian government tightened control over already shrinking space for free expression and stepped up persecution of independent critics during 2016, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2017. The parliament passed new restrictive laws that expand the powers of law enforcement and security agencies, including to control online speech and keep dissenters in check. Kremlin-controlled broadcasters conducted smear campaigns against government critics.
“Today, Russia is more repressive than it has ever been in the post-Soviet era,” said Tanya Lokshina, Russia program director at Human Rights Watch. “People in Russia are paying an ever-higher price for speaking their mind and working to protect the public interest.”