Russia's Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights calls to end war in Ukraine

MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2022, 6:28 AM

The Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation has called for an end to hostilities in Ukraine as soon as possible.

Source: former Council member in Russia Kateryna Shulman on Facebook

 It is noted that this commission managed to "miraculously" approve the statement.

The Council stated that "at least hundreds of Russian and Ukrainian citizens" have already died, and that all events have jeopardized the human rights of many citizens.

Quote: "… the last week has shown that the cost of using the army to solve existing problems is too high.. Military action in Ukraine should be stopped as soon as possible and all disputes between the two countries should be resolved in negotiations. While hostilities are still ongoing, all participants must remember to respect the norms of humanitarian law.

In addition, freedom of speech and other fundamental freedoms should not be subject to additional restrictions, as neither martial law nor a state of emergency has been imposed in Russia. Additional restrictive measures already taken, including amendments to the Criminal Code and the Administrative Code (probably referring to Russia's new law, which penalises "false" information about the Russian military in Ukraine) must be reconsidered.

The statement was signed by Oleksandr Asmolov, Oleksandr Verkhovsky, Natalia Yevdokymova, Ihor Kalyapin, Svitlana Makovetska, Tetyana Margolina Leonid Nikitinsky (announced on February 24 as leaving the Council), Mara Polyakova, Mykola Svanidze, Oleksandr Sokurov, Volodymyr Rakhivsky, Serhiy Yuryn.