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In reply to the discussion: Why bother posting Russia Today videos anymore? [View all]pnwmom
(108,980 posts)Some highlights.
http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014/country-chapters/russia
In June 2013, parliament unanimously adopted a law banning promotion among children of propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships, meaning lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) relationships. Violators risk stiff fines, and in the case of foreigners, up to 15 days detention and deportation. Beginning in 2006, similar laws outlawing propaganda of homosexuality among children were passed in 11 Russian regions.
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In June 2013, President Vladimir Putin signed a law imposing a maximum three-year prison sentence for publicly insult[ing] the feelings of religious believers. The law provides no clear definition of acts or speech considered insulting. The law is yet to be enforced.
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According to the Memorial Human Rights Center, one of Russias most prominent independent rights groups, from January to June 2013, eight people suffered abduction-style detentions by government agencies in Dagestan, with five still unaccounted for at time of writing. Ramazan Abdulatipov, Dagestans new leader, abandoned the soft power counterinsurgency policies of his predecessor, including a commission for return of insurgents to peaceful life and promoting dialogue with Salafi Muslims. In 2013, persecution by law enforcement officials of Salafis increased. Unprosecuted abuses, including torture, abductions, and attacks against suspected insurgents and their families served to alienate Salafi communities. To combat extremists, the authorities condoned the rise of peoples militias, which have driven some Salafis to flee their homes.
In July, unidentified assailants shot dead Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev, an independent journalist and critic of abuses by law enforcement and security agencies. The official investigation, ongoing at time of writing, acknowledged that he was killed because of his journalism. Prior to the murder, Akhmednabiev reported to the authorities death threats he received, but they did not take adequate steps to investigate. Akhmednabiev is the second journalist covering counterinsurgency issues murdered in less than two years in Dagestan. The 2011 killing of Khadzhimurad Kamalov remains unresolved.
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At time of writing, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) had issued over 200 judgments holding Russia responsible for grave human rights violations in Chechnya. At least three pertain to violations that law enforcement officials perpetrated under Kadyrovs de facto con