Russia’s recent “fake news” law is an attempt by the Russian authorities to “muzzle and blindfold the entire population.” This was stated by independent UN experts on human rights, the press service of the organization reports.
Experts note that the law also provides for punishment for “discrediting” the Russian armed forces and “calls to obstruct” their activities.
“The Russian government insists that the new law is designed to protect the truth about what it euphemistically refers to as a “special military operation” in Ukraine. In reality, it leaves Russians in a complete information vacuum about the war and officially legitimizes disinformation and misrepresentation,” said UN Special Rapporteurs appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.
The law has already affected the work of the media in Russia – many publications have begun to resort to self-censorship in their publications about the war in Ukraine. Due to the restrictions imposed, in less than a week, several Russian media outlets were closed or suspended.
Concerned about the safety of their employees in Russia, a number of foreign publications also recalled their correspondents from Moscow. For their part, the Russian authorities blocked the websites of well-known world media or restricted access to them. The blacklist included, among others, the BBC, Deutsche Welle, and the social networks Facebook and Twitter.
“By restricting press freedom and blocking access to information online, the authorities are not only stifling the remnants of an independent, diverse press in Russia, but also depriving the population of the right to access a variety of news and points of view at this critical time when millions of Russians seek to know more about the situation in Ukraine,” experts say.
New restrictions on access to information are being introduced against the background of the dispersal of anti-war rallies, in which thousands of Russians take part, UN experts say.
“Serious reports of indiscriminate use of force by the authorities against protesters and mass arrests are of serious concern,” the statement said. Its authors recalled that the authorities are obliged to respect the right of people to peaceful protests and freedom of assembly.
UN experts are also deeply concerned about the fact that the Russian military is harassing journalists and media in Ukraine, as well as hitting infrastructure for the transmission and dissemination of information.