In Fact
Project to Protect Citizens’ Rights to Freedom of Expression
Why and in what situations is the human right to freedom of expression violated? What is behind the articles “fakes about a special military operation” and “discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”? Our project is trying to understand why people are persecuted for their statements. And what this means for citizens and society.
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10.12.1948)
…No one shall be compelled to express his opinions and convictions or to refuse to do so.
Everyone shall have the right to freely seek, receive, transmit, produce and disseminate information by any lawful means. The list of information constituting a State secret shall be determined by federal law.
Article 29 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation (adopted by popular vote on 12.12.1993)
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The foundation of a democratic society is freedom of expression, which is a basic human right provided for in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The tasks of lawyers and journalists are to defend everyone’s right to a fair trial and the right of society to know what is happening and why.
Over the past 20 years, and especially in the past two years, the independent and safe operation of these professions has come under increasing pressure from the state in the Russian Federation
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Today’s defendants are
ordinary people who have to face the accusation of their own state in courtrooms under articles of “disinformation” and “defamation”. These cases should not go unnoticed. Every precedent needs to be highlighted.
Key points
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In modern Russia, publishing or broadcasting a statement that differs from the position of the authorities can be considered a criminal offense. As well as public expression of an alternative opinion can lead to prosecution and trial.
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Project lawyers participate in court cases, analyze and improve methods of protecting fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens based on the standards of international and Russian legal practice. The results of monitoring and analysis of precedents are published in the form of analytical reviews.
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Journalists follow these processes, providing the public with the facts they need to understand what is happening and why.