Statement by Olivier Dupuis in connection with ban on meeting timed to 60th anniversary of deportation of Chechens

The Moscow Mayor's Office banned a manifestation in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the deportation of the Chechen people by Stalin's order on February 23, 1944. Olivier Dupuis, the member of the European Parliament, issued a statement concerning the Moscow authorities' ban on the meeting.

"This new attack on the fundamental right to hold manifestations will likely be useful for those who find it essential to deepen their own thought about the evolution of Russia. It can be useful to realize the extent to which the jural state and democracy in Russia have evolved since 1999, when Putin took power," reads the statement. "Indeed, whatever sphere of the Russian social life we take (not to mention the developments in Chechnya) - no matter if we touch justice, freedom of speech, press freedom, freedom of association or, as in the case in question, a right to hold manifestations, - everywhere we witness the growth of overt violations of fundamental rights recognized by the Russian Constitution and basic international conventions and, therefore, the permanent erosion of the jural state."

Editors note: See also the article "Moscow Mayor's Office bans rally timed to 60th anniversary of Stalin's deportation of Chechen people".