Thank you Mr. President,

The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the EU statement and thanks Ms. Katzarova for her extensive and valuable work resulting in this third report to the Council.

Last year’s report described a widespread, state-sponsored system of grave human rights violations by the Russian authorities. The new report shows that the situation has not only persisted but further deteriorated - marked by a seismic decline.

This seismic decline reflects a deliberate strategy by the Russian authorities to eradicate dissent and purposefully dismantle what remains of civic space in the country. This includes the further instrumentalisation of the legislative system, and the legal system, to criminalise and suppress dissenting voices. 

We, therefore, urge Russia to cease undermining and dismantling the independence of the judiciary, and to end its use as a tool of repression.

We furthermore call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily detained, and to end the criminalisation, prosecution, imprisonment, ill-treatment and torture of dissenting voices. 

Madam Special Rapporteur, 
How can the international community most effectively contribute to protecting dissenting voices targeted by the Russian authorities, while ensuring accountability for ongoing violations?

Thank you.