Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The violations of human rights in Russia and the stamping out of political opposition are important because Russia as a country exerts significant influence throughout the world. There are very many other countries around the world which do not comply with the principles of human rights that we respect in this country but they are of limited influence. Unfortunately, globally, Russia's influence is extending beyond its borders and it is having quite an impact in other countries. That is why it is important we keep focus on what is happening in that country. I welcome that there is concentration now on other political prisoners who are being incarcerated because of their political views.

It is important to recall in respect of Ilya Yashin that the reason he received an eight and a half year prison sentence was because he made statements about the killings in Bucha. We cannot forget what happened there regarding the violations of human rights, the mass killings of civilians and the war crimes which were committed there, and it is important we keep a focus on that in the same way as dissidents in Russia are keeping a focus on it in their own country.

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