Human Rights
Thursday 10 May 2018
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![Aleksandar Vučić]()
Aleksandar Vučić
President of Serbia
"As you know, nothing in international relations lasts shorter than gratitude, and I would like to thank you once again for what you did in 2015, when you literally saved the Serbian people -- who were and are the people who suffered the most over the last century -- from the stigma of genocide, when you vetoed the British resolution in the U.N.”
Read more...The Serbs not only did not suffer “the most” from 20th Century conflict but it was the Serbian troops who massacred thousands during Bosnian war. Ten UN Security Council members voted for resolution recognizing these atrocities as an act of genocide. Russia vetoed the resolution. Serbs made up one-fourth of the deaths in the 1990’s Balkans conflicts. More than two-thirds of the killed were Bosnian Muslims. -
![Vladimir Putin]()
Vladimir Putin
President of Russia
“I am counting here on new ideas and approaches, on the boldness of our young people, on their ability to become real leaders of change; that young people will be faithful to the values of truth and justice…”
Read more...While youth loyal to Putin are boosted socially and politically, young people critical of the system are persecuted. -
![Sputnik]()
Sputnik
State-owned news agency, Russia
“No Racism in Russia, FIFA 2018 Set to Be Great Tournament – Shanghai SIPG Player.”
Read more...The Russian Football Union is currently under investigation over racism charges from world and European football authorities. In the past, Russian football authorities had paid financial fees for racist behavior and Russian clubs have played in empty stadiums around Europe as punishment for racism. -
![Current Policy (@Current_policy)]()
Current Policy (@Current_policy)
Social media account
“American newspapers presented the use of napalm in Vietnam as forest fires. Since then nothing has changed.”
Read more...There is no indication @Current_Policy is a creation of the Russian government, but the Twitter account Tweets a stream of pro-Kremlin messages – including a false interpretation of an ad promoting press freedom. -
![Sputnik News]()
Sputnik News
Russian state news agency
A Dutch lawyer working at the Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) in Estonia has noted that the April 14 airstrikes against Syria by the US, UK and France are in violation of international law.
Read more...While Western leaders say air strikes were "justified, legitimate and proportionate," and necessary to alleviate overwhelming human suffering, several experts contend this is not considered a justification under international law for military action against another country. -
![RIA Novosti]()
RIA Novosti
Russian state news agency
“The House of Representatives has adopted a law banning the U.S. from aiding Syria”
Read more...H.R. 4681, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives also known as the No Assistance for Assad Act, limits assistance for areas of Syria controlled by the government of Bashar al-Assad Syria or associated forces. The legislation does not apply to “assistance for projects to be administered by local organizations that reflect the aims, needs, and priorities of local communities in Syria; and assistance for projects to meet humanitarian needs, including demining and needs for food, medicine, medical supplies and equipment, education, and clothing.” -
![Dmitry Kiselyov]()
Dmitry Kiselyov
Head of Rossiya Segodnya
"Literal information bombs! This week was a journalist's godsend for our military correspondent in Syria, Evgeny Poddubnyy."
Read more...Russian state TV used stills from a film about Syria and passed them off as real photos from Douma, Syria, where a chemical attack took place. It also claimed an 11-year-old boy who supposedly debunked reports that a chemical attack had taken place was interviewed without any coercion. Investigators found he was interviewed at a military installation in Damascus. -
![Irina Rodnina]()
Irina Rodnina
Russian lawmaker and former Olympic figure skating champion
“I’m just saying they [Americans] wouldn’t report to us. Look at the amount of abuse those children were subjected to. I am not saying that it happened everywhere. But there were a lot of cases like that. We weren’t notified about them because the child would lose their citizenship.”
Read more...Russian lawmaker Irina Rodnina’s statement justifying the Russian ban on U.S. adoptions overstates instances of abuse of adoptees in the U.S., ignores Russia’s own lack of accountability in inter-country adoptions and misstates laws in Russia and the U.S. governing citizenship. -
![Leonid Slutsky]()
Leonid Slutsky
Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee
“I have no doubt that in terms of cooperation with Moscow, as well as within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, full continuity will be maintained. Russia for many years has been Armenia’s strategic ally, and there are no factors for any changes.”
Read more...Thousands of Armenians protested against ex-President Sargsyan’s appointment as the Prime Minister. Hundreds were arrested in rallies over 11 days. 63-year old Sargsyan, yielding to the pressure, resigned on Monday. Chairman of Russia’s Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutksy commented, “Russia for many years has been Armenia’s strategic ally, and there will be no changes.” Armenia depends on Russia militarily, politically and economically; thus, current political turmoil in Yerevan will not affect cooperation with Moscow -
![Ekaterinburg Investigative Committee, Russia]()
Ekaterinburg Investigative Committee, Russia
“There are no grounds for initiating a criminal case. Several versions are under consideration, including an accident; there are no signs that a crime was committed."
Read more...Before allegedly falling from his fifth floor balcony or window to his death, the 32-year-old journalist had been physically attacked several times and, according to friends and colleagues, he suspected he was under surveillance. The Committee to Protect Journalists and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have called for an independent investigation. -
![Sergey Lavrov]()
Sergey Lavrov
Foreign Minister, Russia
“Because during the Cold War there were channels of communication. And there was no obsession with Russophobia, which resembles genocide through sanctions."
Read more...The United Nations defines genocide as the deliberate destruction of a specific group, and lists five types of actions toward a specific group that qualify as genocidal. None of these apply to the financial and travel restrictions the United States imposed on Russian government officials and tycoons. -
![Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoy]()
Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoy
Chief of staff of Russian defense ministry
“Syria's air defense system, based on the Soviet-manufactured air defense systems, has successfully repulsed the strikes from aviation and naval means of destruction. 71 cruise missiles have been intercepted, using Syrian air defense systems S-125, S-200, Buk, Kvadrat and Osa.”
Read more...Gen.Sergei Rudskoy's full statement contains multiple claims aimed at minimizing the impact of air strikes on Syrian chemical weapon facilities. The fact check reveals they are either inaccurate of false.
