Press release

Foreign Office expresses concern about Russian protest arrests

The widespread arrests in Russia contravene its international commitments to uphold citizens’ rights to association, peaceful assembly and demonstration.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Published: 27 March 2017

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

FCO spokesperson:

The UK is concerned by the detention on 26 March of hundreds of Russian citizens following organised protests, which included journalists and opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Russian citizens were exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The UK calls on the government of Russia to release citizens detained during peaceful demonstrations, and to comply with its international commitments in the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

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Published 27 March 2017