This report: "Torture and Ill-treatment of human rights defenders and activists during external and internal conflict situations" reviews the practices of torture and ill-treatment of human rights defenders and civic activists during conflict situations, including armed conflict, as well as civil unrest and mass protests brutally suppressed by the authorities u
International Civic Solidarity Platform Condemns the Recent Defamation of Russian Environmentalist Andrey Rudomakha and Demands His Safety is Ensured
30.09.2019
September 25, 2019
We, members of international Civic Solidarity Platform, condemn the recent efforts to defame Andrey Rudomakha, coordinator of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus, and demand that his safety is ensured.
On September 19, 2019, anonymous libelous posters claiming that Andrey Rudomakha is a pedophile were plastered around the city of Krasnodar, Russia. These posters also included libelous information about Environmental Watch. The posters contained photographs of Rudomakha, included his home address, and called to put an end to his allegedly illegal activity. We are concerned that these actions will result in additional threats to Rudomakha and other members of Environmental Watch, including physical violence.
This obvious and disgusting attempt to defame Rudomakha is extremely troubling, particularly following the raids of Environmental Watch’s office early in the morning on September 12, July 30, and April 9, 2019 by the authorities, carrying automatic weapons and wearing balaclavas. In both the July and April raids, equipment, including computers, flash drives, and mobile phones were confiscated, as well as the organization’s files. Members of EWNC, including Rudomakha, were treated brutally by those who raided the office, and damage was done to the door and furniture. These are only the raids that happened this year; serious harassment of the organization has been ongoing for at least the past ten years.
Earlier, on December 28, 2017, Andrey Rudomakha was brutally beaten by masked attackers as he returned from an environmental inspection. Rudomakha spent over two weeks in the hospital recovering from his injuries, which included a fractured skull, concussion, a broken nose, and severe dental damage. His attackers remain at large even though the incident was recorded on EWNC’s security camera and provided to the police.
On January 9, 2018, less than two weeks following the attack, Rudomakha and Environmental Watch’s deputy director, Dmitry Shevchenko, received death threats sent by email from the address smertrudomakhe@gmail.com.
At the same time that the libelous posters were placed around Krasnodar on September 19, an anonymous petition was circulated on the online platform Change.org, requesting signatures to remove Rudomakha from the environmental council of the Governor of Krasnodar Krai.
The recent libelous statements about Andrey Rudomakha discredit his honor and dignity, damage his reputation, and violate his rights, including his right to personal security, privacy, and right to freedom of association. This latest effort at character assassination places Rudomakha once again at great risk of personal violence and must be stopped.
We demand that the Russian authorities provide protection to Rudomakha, go after those who are harassing him, and stop the repression of Rudomakha and other members of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus.
We call on the international community to demand respect for human rights among environmental and human rights defenders by the authorities in the Russian Federation and states across the OSCE region.
We as members of the Civic Solidarity Platform state our solidarity with and support for Andrey Rudomakha and all members of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus.
