A Moscow court on Wednesday ordered the liquidation of the Helsinki Group, considered Russia’s oldest human rights NGO, in response to an administrative request from the Russian Ministry of Justice.
The government alleged in the lawsuit that the authorities detected irregularities during an inspection in November 2022, such as Helsinki Group staff carrying out activities outside Moscow, something they theoretically would not be entitled to do.
The organization applied in vain for the dismissal of these complaints and, during the proceedings, vindicated its important work since its founding in 1976. For the president, Valeri Borshchev, the government’s accusations are «absurd», among other reasons because «human rights transcend territories».
Wednesday’s ruling is not final, and the Helsinki Group could appeal it, according to sources quoted by the Interfax agency.
The Russian political authorities, in collusion with the judicial authorities, have hardened the persecution of organizations considered critical in recent years, in a trend that intensified especially after the beginning of the military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
