Citizens' Rights to Freedom of Thought and Speech in Russia

 

Since the beginning of the Russian "military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, any attempts by citizens to freely express their opinions regarding the ongoing events have been harshly suppressed by law enforcement authorities in the Russian Federation.

Thousands of people have faced administrative fines for peaceful slogans like "No to War!" Hundreds have been subjected to criminal prosecution. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of rational-minded citizens have been forced to leave Russia, relocating to other countries.

In these challenging times, it seems that law enforcement officials and lawmakers have forgotten the most fundamental legal document of a law-governed state—the Constitution.

However, Article 29 of the Russian Constitution, adopted in 1993, guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of thought and freedom of speech.

 

For Reference:

Article 29 of the Russian Constitution (Right to Freedom of Expression)

1. Everyone is guaranteed the freedom of thought and speech.
2. Propaganda or agitation that incites social, racial, national, or religious hatred and enmity is prohibited. Propaganda of social, racial, national, religious, or linguistic superiority is forbidden.
3. No one may be compelled to express their opinions and beliefs or to renounce them.
4. Everyone has the right to freely seek, receive, transmit, produce, and disseminate information by any legal means. The list of information constituting state secrets is determined by federal law.
5. The freedom of mass media is guaranteed. Censorship is prohibited.

 

Russia's current policies are leading it to become a state where there is no freedom of speech, no freedom of thought, no freedom for individuals. Those who, by their personal convictions, cannot support the military operation, the killing of neighboring peoples, and the destruction of peaceful cities, face persecution, imprisonment, and various forms of repression from law enforcement and government authorities.

The online publication "Freedom Person" is committed to objectively covering events in Russia, with a particular focus on upholding the constitutional rights of citizens.

We stand by and support those who have bravely voiced their opinions on the events in Russia, condemning the horrific "special military operation" that has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians.

 

For any inquiries, please contact our editorial team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sincerely, Vitali Ivanenko
Freedom Person