Russia Violates The Human Rights Of Protesters

The arrest of around 500 hundred peaceful protesters, human rights watchers and observers as well as journalists including opposition figures recently in Moscow is a clear violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

These protesters have human rights that must be recognized and protected by the Russian government since it is among the signatories and party to the Universal Declaration On Human Rights.

While it is true that the Russian government has the duty to maintain peace and order just like any other government in the world, the crackdown on any peaceful rally or protest is an over-kill and is meant to disrupt the peaceful assembly of the Russian citizens.

It is possible that there will be more arrest in the coming days. It is doubtful if what the police did in Moscow is law-enforcement or just plain and simple harassment to silence all the demonstration against the alleged corruption on the part of Prime Minister Demitry Medvedev.

Is Russian Still Under The Politburo Or Kremlin?

   What transpired in Moscow and in other part of Russia with regards to the unwarranted crackdown on the protesters and rallyist deserves international condemnation.

Russia must always abide to the Universal Declaration On Human Rights as part of the International Law among Nations.

What the crackdown meant is that no democratic values exist in so far as the Russian government is concern.

Are Mr. Putin and Mr. Medvedev afraid that the public may know the hard truth about the corruption of Mr. Medvedev who allegedly accumulated expensive properties beyond his means?

Article 19 and Article 20 Of The UDHR

   The provision of Article 19 and Article 20 of the Universal Declaration On Human Rights (UNDHR) in which Russia is a party is clear and self-explanatory.

It is expressly provided in these two (2) articles the following, to quote:

“Article 19.

Everyone has the right of freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to holds opinions without interference, and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through media and regardless of frontiers.” and

“Article 20.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.”

From the foregoing articles, it is clear that these protesters have the “right of freedom of opinion and expression” which includes the “freedom to holds opinions without interference”.

These protesters have also the “right of peaceful assembly and association”.

Since as already adverted to, the Russian government is among the signatories of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and being among the signatories and party to this International Agreement the same is binding upon the Russian government to abide and to uphold and not to violate.

The recent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations and protest in Moscow and other part of Russia has sent a strong chilling effect on the hearts and minds of the Russian citizens: that any protest or opposition to the current regime of Pres. Putin and Prime Minister Medvedev will be crush accordingly.

In such a situation it will be the beginning of the end of civil liberties in Russia.