{"id":8432,"date":"2013-12-23T22:43:31","date_gmt":"2013-12-23T18:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adcmemorial.org\/?p=8432"},"modified":"2013-12-31T19:55:02","modified_gmt":"2013-12-31T15:55:02","slug":"russian-ngo-memorial-un-rights-experts-voice-concern-at-court-s-foreign-agent-ruling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adcmemorial.org\/en\/news\/russian-ngo-memorial-un-rights-experts-voice-concern-at-court-s-foreign-agent-ruling\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian NGO Memorial: UN rights experts voice concern at court\u2019s \u2018foreign agent\u2019 ruling"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Geneva\u00a0 (23 December\u00a0 2013)<\/address>\n
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The United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) has voiced grave concern after a court in Russia ordered a non-governmental organisation that had provided information to the Committee to register as a \u201cforeign agent\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A court in St Petersburg ruled earlier this month that the Anti-Discrimination Centre Memorial was engaged in political activity and was therefore in breach of legislation which stipulates that politically active non-profit groups must register as \u201cforeign agents\u201d if they receive money from abroad.<\/p>\n

The Committee said it was disturbed that prosecutors, as part of their civil lawsuit against Memorial, had referred to a report on police abuse of Roma and migrants submitted by the group for CAT\u2019s review of the Russian Federation in November 2012.<\/p>\n

\u201cRussia is a State Party to the Convention against Torture and as such should ensure that no group faces prosecution for communicating with or providing information to the Committee,\u201d said George Tugushi, CAT\u2019s rapporteur on reprisals.<\/p>\n

Under the Convention, \u201cSteps shall be taken to ensure that the complainant and witnesses are protected against all ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of his complaint or any evidence given,\u201d Mr Tugushi noted.