"Human Rights Watch" demanded to stop pressure on independent observers at the election

The Russian authorities must immediately stop bringing pressure on non-governmental association "Golos" ("Vote") monitoring election of deputies of State Duma of the Russian Federation and release the detained participants of peaceful actions who expressed their protest against the election, a statement of international human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" runs.

"The rising pressure on "Golos" is probably the most demonstrative example of the authorities' attempts to frustrate public control of the election in Russia, Hugh Williamson, Director of "Human Rights Watch" for Europe and Central Asia, said. - Such attempts must be immediately stopped".

"Human Rights Watch" also calls to release peaceful marchers who expressed their protest against the results of the election and were detained on December, 5, in Moscow and other Russian cities. "Prohibition for the citizens to monitor the election process in their own country produces a very grievous impression of itself, - Williamson says. - Punishing them for making violations public is even more unlawful, in particular, for the cause of establishment of supremacy of law in Russia".

The statement on the web-site of "Human Rights Watch" runs that the Russian authorities should immediately stop the campaign of intimidating "Golos" and establish a favourable atmosphere for the observing organizations on the eve of presidential election of March, 2012.

"Golos" association was founded in 2000 for the purpose of protection of the electors' rights and works in 40 regions of Russia. The organization discloses violations of the Russian electoral legislation and the respective international standards at federal, regional and municipal levels.

On December, 4, the web-site of "Golos" was disabled as a result of a mass hacker attack and is still inaccessible. In their interview for "Human Rights Watch" members of "Golos" association said that on the election day many observers underwent threats and intimidation.

Pressure on the organization started yet before the election. In particular, several leading state mass media, including "Rossiyskaya Gazeta", published a series of critical essays about "Golos" accusing the organization of preconception and corruption. NTV showed a half-hourly documentary scoring "Golos". On December, 2, upon the verdict of Meshansky court of Moscow the association was fined to 30 thousand rubles. The case was initiated on the request of Chairman of Central Election Committee in connection with the online complaint map from the electors all over the country created and supported by "Golos".