23 December 2020
By Pavel Chikov, head of Agora International Human Rights Group
Source: Moscow Helsinki Group [original source: Источник]
In December several civil society groups and activists came to us for legal assistance.
We expect a sharp deterioration in the social and political situation in the country because of the new repressive laws that have been adopted, the coming elections to the State Duma and the militant and militaristic rhetoric of top officials.
The new wave of pressure will be directed against civil society organisations irrespective of their level of political activity, against the organisers and participants in street protests, against independent media and the administrators of socially and politically relevant internet media, against activists of the political opposition in the regions, and against ordinary social network users and against critics of the authorities.
For more than 15 years we have been defending civic activists, civil society organisations, freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest in Russia. For assistance, please contact Dmitry Kolbasin. In your message, explain what happened, where and when, and what written documents about the matter you possess. I, Pavel Chikov, shall be in charge of organising the legal assistance.
Translated by Simon Cosgrove
