Russia: Attack on the home of human rights defender Stanislav Dmitrievsky

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following reports of an attack on the home of human rights defender Stanislav Dmitrievsky. Stanislav Dmitrievsky is a consultant with the Nizhny Novgorod Foundation to Support Tolerance, and was previously Chairperson of its predecessor, the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS), before it was closed in Russia by authorities. Stanislav Dmitrievsky was also the subject of a Front Line urgent action on 15 April 2008 and has received threats regularly since 2005.

On 14 August 2008, at approximately 4.20 am, a window pane of the first-floor apartment where Stanislav Dmitrievsky and his family live was partially broken when a brick was thrown at it. On the front door and facade of the apartment, unknown individuals had painted swastikas and insulting slogans which included ''Dmitrievskiy vermin traitor of Russia ap.24 Believe it!", "Get away!" and "Dmitrievskiy is a whore". Witnesses reported having seen two individuals in the vicinity of the apartment building at that time. Stanislav Dmitrievsky alerted the police, who arrived forty minutes later. At 7.00 am, investigators came to the scene, and removed some paint and the brick as evidence, stating that the case would be examined by local police. Members of the Nizhny Novgorod Committee Against Torture (NNCAT) later took photographic evidence of the scene.

Reports indicate that the attack may be related to research carried out by the NNCAT on international criminal law and an open letter sent by the organisation to Vladimir Lukin, the Russian Ombudsman, concerning the armed conflict with Georgia.

I view this latest incident with serious concern and believes that the attack against the home of Stanislav Dmitrievsky is the most recent in a series of attempts to curb the legitimate and peaceful work of the Nizhny Novgorod Foundation to Support Tolerance in defence of human rights, through direct intimidation of, and threats against, its members. In view of this attack, I fear for the physical and psychological integrity of Stanislav Dmitrievsky, his family, and all members of the organisation.

I urge the Russian authorities to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the threats against Stanislav Dmitrievsky and the attack on his home, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Adopt immediate measures to ensure that harassment and intimidation of members of the Nizhny Novgorod Foundation to Support Tolerance, in particular Stanislav Dmitrievsky, ceases, and to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the members of the organisation and their families.

3. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Russia are free to carry out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, without fear of intimidation or reprisal.

I respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.

I would particularly draw your attention to Article 1 which states that “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, to Article 5: “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels: (b) To form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups”, and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present declaration.”

Yours sincerely,