Week-ending 16 July 2021
On 12 July 2021 human rights defender Semyon Simonov was convicted by a court in Sochi under the ‘foreign agent’ law for an unpaid fine imposed on the Southern Human Rights Centre, which he heads. Simonov was sentenced to 250 hours of community service. Human Rights Watch stated: ‘The verdict caps nearly eight years of harassment and intimidation against Simonov in retaliation for his human rights work. The authorities should immediately withdraw the charges against Simonov, quash the verdict, and repeal the abusive “foreign agents” law, which is the source of the fine. Simonov told Human Rights Watch that he plans to appeal the ruling.’
Sources:
Human Rights Watch, 12 July 2021: A court in Sochi, Russia, has convicted a prominent human rights defender on criminal charges related to the country’s “foreign agents” law, Human Rights Watch said today. The court sentenced Semyon Simonov, head of the Southern Human Rights Center, to 250 hours of community service, for an unpaid fine levied against the center. The verdict caps nearly eight years of harassment and intimidation against Simonov in retaliation for his human rights work. The authorities should immediately withdraw the charges against Simonov, quash the verdict, and repeal the abusive “foreign agents” law, which is the source of the fine. Simonov told Human Rights Watch that he plans to appeal the ruling.
RFE/RL, 12 July 2021: Noted human rights defender Semyon Simonov has been convicted on criminal charges related to Russia’s controversial “foreign agents” law. In a July 12 statement, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said a court in the southern city of Sochi had sentenced Simonov, who leads the Southern Human Rights Center, to 250 hours of community service for an unpaid fine levied against the center. Among other activities, Simonov documented abuses experienced by migrant workers involved in construction for Russia’s Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was also involved in human rights education and monitored police conduct.
See also our podcast with Semyon Simonov here.
