Restrictions on freedom of expression, politically-motivated prosecutions, and government discrimination against minorities were among the most significant human rights problems in Russia last year, the U.S. State Department says in its newly-released human rights report for 2014.
The report, released Thursday, says Russia’s government last year used a variety of legislation to restrict freedom of speech and press, including new amendments to the law on extremism broadening the definition of extremist speech, and increasing fines and prison sentences. It also notes that government-controlled Russian media frequently used terms like “traitor,” “foreign agent,” and “fifth column” to describe government critics.
According to the …read more
Source: Voice of America
