Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27281/24]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the continuing erosion of human rights in Russia, and the persecution of individuals for exercising their personal freedoms, including rights to freedom of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27278/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 38 together.

Ireland remains deeply concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights in Russia, and the persecution of individuals for exercising their personal freedoms, including rights to freedom of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly.

The domestic political situation in Russia has descended into authoritarianism in recent years and has deteriorated even further since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. There are ongoing examples of mass arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as harassment of peaceful anti-war activists, human rights defenders, journalists, cultural figures and ethnic minorities.

Domestic opposition leaders have been arrested and prosecuted on politically motivated charges. Legislation has been introduced to essentially shut down civil society in Russia.

The presidential elections held by Russia on 15-17 March took place in a highly restricted environment. The shocking death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in the run-up to the elections is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in the country. Russia systematically represses opposition politicians, civil society organisations, independent media and other critical voices with the use of repressive legislation and politically motivated prison sentences.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation has described a so-called legal carousel whereby victims are put through a series of arbitrary detentions until a fabricated criminal charge is raised against the victim. Confessions are frequently obtained through the use of torture or other coercive practices. There is no independent oversight, reporting, or investigation mechanisms, which perpetuates impunity for such serious crimes.

Lawyers are also targets of political pressure, including legal harassment and prosecution, and physical violence amounting to torture and ill-treatment.

Ireland shares international concern at the situation of current political prisoners, as Russia continues its tactics of oppression against those it views as threats, including Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin.

Ireland is also concerned at the ongoing arbitrary detention of a number of foreign nationals, without due legal process. In May, the 2024 World Press Freedom Index noted that Russia is pursuing a crusade against independent journalism. The list of media and journalists branded as “foreign agents” has lengthened every year and journalists continue to be jailed arbitrarily.

The latest report of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Russian Federation highlights that laws on anti-terrorism and anti-extremism are being used to limit freedom of expression. In addition to criminal prosecutions, extrajudicial harassment, arrests and use of administrative fines are being employed to silence Russian journalists.

In our national statements and as part of the EU, Ireland will continue raise the situation of human rights in Russia at the Human Rights Council and across various international fora.

In our statements at Russia’s Universal Periodic Review in November and the 54th Human Rights Council in September, Ireland called on Russia to immediately end acts of intimidation, prosecution and violence against journalists, human rights defenders and civil society more broadly.

Russia is currently subject to the most comprehensive and far-reaching sanctions ever imposed by the European Union. The European Union continues to keep its sanctions under review, including in response to the increasing erosion of human rights and civil liberties in Russia.