Human Rights organisations’ letter to UK Government on sanctions and internet access in Russia 

EMBARGO: 09:00am Friday 20 May 2022 

Human rights organisations express concerns over new sanctions that may interfere with the Russian people’s access to the internet, which will obstruct attempts to organize in opposition to the war, report openly and honestly on events in Russia, and access information about what is happening in Ukraine and abroad. Signatories which includes Access Now, Open Rights Group, Article 19, Committee to Protect Journalists, and the Wikimedia Foundation among others deplore Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, condemn in the strongest possible terms the grave violations committed by Russian forces there, and appreciate efforts by the United Kingdom and other governments to respond with strong and targeted measures. 

Jim Killock, the Executive Director of the privacy and digital rights organisation, the Open Rights Group (ORG), said: 

“We deplore Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, condemn in the strongest possible terms the grave violations committed by Russian forces, but we also warn about the unintended consequences of disrupting internet access in Russia which could obstruct journalists from reporting the truth about Putin’s war and prevent human rights, civil society, and political activists from attempting to organise opposition to Putin.” 

Peter Micek, General Counsel at the global digital rights organisation Access Now, said: 

“Without carveouts for human rights, western sanctions can be counterproductive, hobbling efforts by journalists, activists, and civic leaders to report the truth, end the war, and hold their leaders to account. We call on the UK government to tailors its sanctions to protect, not restrict, access to the global internet and the free flow of information online in Russia and Belarus.”

ENDS 

Contact 

Press 07951265812 / press@openrightsgroup.org

Notes to the Editor 

[1]: Full letter can be seen here: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/letter-to-uk-government-on-sanctions-and-internet-access-in-russia/