A New Curtain Falls

Curtailment of Freedom of Expression, Political Opposition and Advocacy in Russia.

Discussion with Bach Avezdjanov on human rights violations and restrictions on political opposition in Russia. We discuss the use of the Foreign Agents Law to shut down “undesirable NGOs” working for human rights advocacy, restrictions on media, including limitation of foreign ownership and the “two strikes and you are out" rule, subjecting bloggers to registration and control as media entities, the use of the Anti-Extremism Law to discriminate against religious minorities, the “Gay Propaganda” Law and increasing discrimination and violence against LGBT people, increased restrictions on public assembly, Russia's increasingly strained relationship with the European Court of Human Rights, the future of Russian grassroots activism and opposition to Putin. Bach is currently the Program Officer for Columbia's Global Freedom of Expression initiative which seeks to advance freedom of expression globally, monitors changing international and domestic laws on freedom of expression and maintains a database of global freedom of expression case law. Bach previously worked for Freedom House and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Kyrgyzstan where his work focused on torture prevention and strengthening public assembly, minority and women’s rights. Bach has also worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Sudan where he monitored and protected the rights of refugees.

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