GENEVA – Russian officials say the U.N. human rights office in Moscow is closing, an outcome the U.N.’s top human rights official had feared amid concerns about a government crackdown on public debate in Russia.
The Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva has confirmed a report from Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, saying a decision was made to end the OHCHR mission in Moscow.
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Ambassador Alexey Borodavkin was quoted as saying the office had already helped to create human rights institutions in Russia and “we do not see anything extraordinary” in its closing.
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On Thursday, U.N. rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein expressed concern about “signals” that Russia might close the office.
In January, Human Rights Watch lamented a “sinister turn” last year to a Russian government crackdown on public debate.
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