The decision handed Thursday calls on Moscow to ascertain “constructive communication and full cooperation” with Katzarova and permit her unhindered entry, together with to fulfill freely with civil society and people in detention.
Moscow has refused to let her in and never recognised her mandate.
“No nation is above scrutiny, regardless of how upsetting or embarrassing they discover it; regardless of how robust their army is … and regardless of how aggressively they threaten or cajole different nations,” US ambassador Michele Taylor advised the council earlier than Thursday’s vote.
Luxembourg’s ambassador Marc Bichler, presenting the decision, mentioned: “Identical to all human beings in every single place, the inhabitants of Russia should dwell freely and luxuriate in all of their human rights … regrettably, the authorities have determined in any other case.”
The decision mentioned it was gravely involved on the “continued important deterioration of the scenario” of human rights in Russia, citing reviews of “the extrajudicial killing of presidency critics and extreme restrictions” on freedom of opinion.
It additionally voiced alarm at reported mass arbitrary arrests, “the shortage of an impartial judiciary, the denial of the correct to a good trial … the blocking and compelled closure of practically all impartial media shops” and “cyber-surveillance to manage data and intimidate and silence critics”.
“SOPHISTICATED” REPRESSION
Presenting the findings of her first report final month, Katzarova mentioned repression in Russia had soared since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, reaching ranges not seen since Stalinist occasions.
“The extent of repression towards the civil society impartial media, and customarily anyone with a dissenting voice … is unprecedented in latest historical past,” she advised reporters.
She lamented Moscow’s “monumental crackdown” on critics since invading Ukraine.
“Civic society in Russia has been closed by the authorities,” she mentioned, including that the “repression may be very subtle”, with new legal guidelines introduced nearly each week “to stifle” any type of criticism or dissent.
Earlier than Thursday’s vote, British ambassador Simon Manley mentioned the particular rapporteur was a “very important hyperlink between the worldwide group and the oppressed folks of Russia”.
China’s consultant mentioned the council was changing into “more and more politicised and confrontational”.
Cuban ambassador Juan Antonio Quintanilla Roman mentioned such resolutions had been “solely supposed to level the finger at sure states for geopolitical functions”.
Russia declined the chance to take the ground.