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Repression in Russia is unprecedented since Stalin, says UN expert

Human Rights Council in session
The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is due to discuss on Thursday the report of its Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia. © Keystone / Salvatore Di Nolfi

The level of repression in Russia is "unprecedented" since the Stalinist era, according to the UN's Special Rapporteur on the country.

The number of complaints from individuals to UN mechanisms has risen sharply, Mariana Katzarova said in Geneva on Friday.

“It’s still not as bad” as in the Stalinist era, she told the press. Repression is “sophisticated” and “every week, a new law adds restrictions”.

Katzarova also said that “Russia has closed its society”. The international community still has the opportunity, by continuing to monitor the situation, to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, in her view.

The Bulgarian started her mandate at the beginning of May. Members of the UN Human Rights Council currently meeting in Geneva are due to discuss the renewal of her mandate in a few weeks’ time.

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