With both great sadness and anger, the Human Rights Committee of Liberal International notes how time and time again, Russia continues to violate the rule of law and deprive many persons of their legal rights according to the European Conventions and decisions. It is estimated that there are around 400 political prisoners in Russia, including historian Yuri Dmitriyev, whose life is in danger, Alexei Navalny, and many others who have expressed dissenting opinions.

We are also gravely concerned for a long-serving prisoner of conscience, Alexei Pichugin, and condemn the continued violation of his fundamental human rights. Pichugin was one of many originally arrested on sham charges in a flagrant attempt to seize Yukos company assets.

Since then, Pichugin has been retried and handed a life sentence. He recently dismissed his long-time legal team, likely under pressure. Other Yukos employees have been arbitrarily detained. We note the recent statement of the Special Rapporteur on political prisoners in Russia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressing concern for him.

We press for Russia to comply with international judgements by the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. It has been noted that Pichugin’s detention has no legal basis and violates his human rights, and that he should be immediately released.

We reaffirm the statement by the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights urging UN experts to prevent torture or loss of life, call for his release, and garner further international attention for his precarious situation.

We furthermore call upon countries to use their legislation to impose sanctions on high-level Russian officials responsible for gross human rights violations and the persecution of political prisoners and urge other countries to follow suit.