Human Rights Council 39: Right of Reply -- The Russian Federation
This UK statement was delivered at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council during the Right of Reply on the Russian Federation.
The Human Rights Council takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The United Kingdom strongly rejects the accusations made by the delegation from the Russian Federation during the Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The UK firmly opposes any form of deprivation of liberty that would amount to placing a detained person outside the protection of the law.
The UK also strongly refutes the allegation that it has obstructed access for consular officials of third countries to their nationals in the UK. Whilst we recognise that states have the right to request consular access to their citizens abroad, we are clear that in each case the individual’s wishes and concerns must come first. This is a long standing UK policy.
Finally, the Russian Federation referred in its intervention to a Russian national currently residing under UK government protection, in the UK. It is the longstanding position of the UK not to comment on individual cases. However, the situation regarding that individual is well known following the high profile attempted murder of Sergei Skripal using a lethal, criminal nerve agent that led subsequently to the tragic death of mother of three, Dawn Sturgess. The UK would therefore refer the Russian delegation to the individual’s public statements, where she has made clear that she is in the UK of her own free will, and does not desire consular assistance from the Russian Federation.