Stop political persecution of human rights activists in Novorossiisk

Statement of Russian non-governmental organizations and civil activists

We, representatives of Russian NGOs, express indignation of the fact that Novorossiisk Committee for human rights which is being persecuted illegally with obvious political bias. We demand to stop the persecution of our colleagues.

On September 17, in Novorossiisk started the court process in which Public Prosecutor's office demands to liquidate the organization as the extremist one.

All of us have heard much about abuses of anti-extremist law, including those against NGOs, but even on this ground persecution of Novorossiisk Committee rouses our bewilderment and indignation.

For the whole text of the statement and for the list of  signers visit Memorial site (in Russian): http://www.memo.ru/2009/09/17/1709091.htm

September 18, 2009