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Igor Kalyapin

Igor Kalyapin

HRD, Founder
Front Line Defenders Award
2011

“The work of the Joint Mobile Group is an inspirational example of how committed individuals, despite all the pressures that are brought to bear on them, can hold the line in defence of justice, truth and the rule of law. It is the denial of access to justice that enables tyrants to prevail. This is why the work of human rights defenders like the Joint Mobile Group is so important”.
- Former Irish President Mary Robinson

Martin Ennals Award
2013

Joint Mobile Group - Russia - Martin Ennals Award 2013 Laureate

Horrific crimes continue. We formed mobile groups of lawyers to investigate the activities of the police units, which are police only in name. We have demonstrated that even here, even in these circumstances, it is possible to fight for human rights.

Igor Kalyapin is a human rights defender, founder and a former chairperson of the Committee Against Torture. He is also the founder of the Joint Mobile Group (JMG) established by human rights NGOs in November 2009 following the murder of human rights defender Ms Natalya Estemirova in Chechnya. The JMG received the Front Line Defenders Award in April 2011 for their work in investigating torture and disappearances in Chechnya and was also the 2013 recipient of the Martin Ennals Award. Igor Kalyapin is also an acting member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights in Russia.

Russia

Human rights defenders (HRDs) in the Russian Federation have been subjected to acts of harassment, surveillance, violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, violent attacks, raids and searches on their offices and homes, slander and smear campaigns, judicial harassment, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment. Among the HRDs who are particularly at risk are those involved on issues such as the situation in the North Caucasus (particularly Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan).

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Igor Kalyapin on Receiving the 2011 Front Line Defenders Award