Russia Shuts Down Human Rights Watch, Amnesty Intl

Via press release from Human Rights Watch:

Russia’s Justice Ministry on April 8, 2022 canceled the registration of Human Rights Watch, along with Amnesty International and 13 other offices of foreign nongovernmental organizations and foundations, Human Rights Watch said today.

Human Rights Watch had maintained an office in Russia for 30 years. The action was announced just days after an appeals court upheld the liquidation of Russia’s human rights giant, Memorial.

“Human Rights Watch has been working on and in Russia since the Soviet era, and we will continue to do so,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “This new iron curtain will not stop our ongoing efforts to defend the rights of all Russians and to protect civilians in Ukraine.”

Read the full release.

Human Rights Watch has maintained an office in Russia for the past 30 years. The Kremlin’s decision to close it is the latest sign of a reversion to Soviet-style repression. https://t.co/ADPFQaDzGa

— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) April 9, 2022

Russia revokes registration of Amnesty and Human Rights Watch https://t.co/leMgWzPqWA pic.twitter.com/dW4A7nUNie

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 8, 2022