Resolution tabled by Union of Right Forces th at the IDU Executive Meeting on May 20
The International Democrat Union (IDU) states that an overt dictatorship has been established in Russia.
- In recent months, the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been arrested and convicted based on highly questionable reasons.
- Parallel, the number of political prisoners has increased multiple times.
- Lawyers defending political opponents have been threatened with legal actions.
- New repressive laws have been adopted, which prohibit political and educationalactivities and opposition media has been declared as “foreign agents”.
- Russian citizens are persecuted for any form of cooperation with foreignorganizations that the authorities have declared as undesirable.
- Participants of peaceful demonstrations are hunted by security services with the helpof modern surveillance technics, including image recognition function.
- If not arrested, members of the opposition are forced into exile.These are clear pattern of an authoritarian regime, prohibiting all forms of legitimate political resistance, silencing independent voices, suppressing media freedom, oppressing any kind of opposition activity and turning elections into a farce. The international community of democracies must acknowledge, that Putin`s policy has become today more aggressive than ever and that it is a real threat to its neighbors and the free world.
Therefore, the IDU
- demands the release of all political prisoners, including Alexei Navalny;
- stipulates that Russian legislation must be brought in line with Russia’s internationalobligations and its own constitution;
- calls upon Moscow to refrain from any reprisals against the democratic opposition;
- expresses its solidarity with those Russian citizens who risk their lives, their libertyand personal freedom as they continue to fight for democracy and human dignity;
- calls upon its members and all democratic states to provide global support to theseindividuals and to conduct coordinated actions of solidarity based on our democratic values and principles.