UN Official: Russia’s New Laws Could Have Serious Negative Impacts on Human Rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said she was concerned that a series of legislative amendments in the Russian Federation would have a seriously negative impact on human rights in the country. “In just two months, we have seen a worrying shift in the legislative environment governing the enjoyment of the freedoms of assembly, association, speech and information in the Russian Federation,” she said. “At least four new legal provisions have been made that will have a detrimental effect on human rights in the country.” Those provisions include the laws known as the "anti-rally law," the "foreign agents law," the "internet censorship law," and the "criminal defamation law." In response Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich called on Pillay to "refrain from politically motivated and incorrect statements".

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42497
http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=3&id=348341