MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON DECEMBER 8, 2022 The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Begin Text: The undersigned Foreign Ministers for country members of the Global Partnership for Action …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 9 December, 2022 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Gender Issues, Human Rights, Near East & North Africa, News, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State
PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE DECEMBER 8, 2022 This morning, I joined President Biden, Vice President Harris, National Security Advisor Sullivan, and Cherelle Griner in the Oval Office, as Cherelle spoke to her wife Brittney, who is now on her way back to the United States and to her wife’s loving embrace. …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 8 December, 2022 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, News, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State
PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE NOVEMBER 25, 2022 Today we recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Despite great strides to prevent and respond to the pervasiveness of gender-based violence around the world, violence remains …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 30 November, 2022 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Gender Issues, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State
MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON NOVEMBER 18, 2022 The Conflict Observatory, a program supported by the U.S. Department of State, released an independent report today that details numerous instances of unjust detentions and disappearances in Kherson, Ukraine, as they relate to Russia’s ongoing filtration operations. Russia must halt these operations and withdraw its forces to end a needless war …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 21 November, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, News, Press Releases
ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 27, 2022 PRESS STATEMENT The United States joins the international community in marking the 24th occasion of International Religious Freedom Day. Freedom of religion or belief is a founding principle of our nation, enshrined in our Constitution. Americans cherish the right to worship, or not worship, as they …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 31 October, 2022 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, News, U.S. Secretary of State
Last week, Russian authorities initiated a new criminal case against opposition leader and anticorruption campaigner Aleksey Navalny for allegedly, quote, “propagating extremism, calling for terrorism, financing extremist activity, and rehabilitating Nazism.” Those, of course, were their charges. These charges could result in a cumulative 30 years’ imprisonment. Only two days before the outrageous new charges …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 27 October, 2022 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Press Releases
Statement of U.S. Embassy Moscow CDA Elizabeth Rood Following U.S. Citizen Brittney Griner’s Hearing Moscow Oblast Court October 25, 2022 Today was another sad day for the rule of law in the Russian Federation. In the case of U.S. citizen Brittney Griner, the appeals court made a slight reduction in her sentence for time served …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 26 October, 2022 | Topics: Chargé D’Affaires, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, News, Press Releases
THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM STATEMENTS AND RELEASES OCTOBER 25, 2022 We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today. President Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately. In recent …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 26 October, 2022 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Press Releases
NED PRICE, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 PRESS STATEMENT The United States welcomes the opening statements in the trial of Félicien Kabuga at the Hague branch of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), the successor mechanism to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity, Kabuga is …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 4 October, 2022 | Topics: Africa, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, News, Policy, Press Releases
Warsaw Human Dimension Conference: Plenary Session V Rights of persons belonging to national minorities; Treatment of citizens of other States and human rights of migrants; Roma and Sinti issues; Equal opportunities and rights for women and men; Violence against women and children As prepared for delivery by Ambassador Michael G. Kozak, Head of the U.S. …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 4 October, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Press Releases, Speeches
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield U.S. Representative to the United Nations New York, New York September 30, 2022 AS DELIVERED Let me thank all of you for waiting to see us this afternoon. The illegal referenda that Russia held in Ukraine and the purported annexations of Ukrainian territory by force are a violation of the UN Charter and international law. They change nothing about the status and borders of Ukraine. That is the firmly-held conviction of the United States. This is the firmly-held conviction of the Secretary-General. And as you saw just …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 1 October, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Policy, Political Affairs, Press Releases, Speeches
ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 PRESS STATEMENT The Kremlin’s sham referenda are a futile effort to mask what amounts to a further attempt at a land grab in Ukraine. To be clear: the results were orchestrated in Moscow and do not reflect the will of the people of Ukraine. The United …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 30 September, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Policy, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State
OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 MEDIA NOTE The text of the following statement was announced by the envoys for Holocaust issues or their equivalent from Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Romania, United Kingdom, and the United States of America on behalf of their Governments. Begin Text: We must never forget the …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 30 September, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Fundamental Freedoms, Government Offices, History, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Press Releases
ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 PRESS STATEMENT The United States today committed an additional $457.5 million in civilian security assistance to enhance the efforts of Ukrainian law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to improve their operational capacity and save lives as they continue to help defend the Ukrainian people, their freedom, …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 27 September, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Policy, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State
NED PRICE, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 PRESS STATEMENT The United States welcomes the release of several political prisoners in Belarus including Aleh Hurzdzilovich, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist. While the release of these political prisoners is a step in the right direction, too many political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus. We call …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 27 September, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Press Releases
NED PRICE, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON PRESS STATEMENT SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 The United States and 37 other countries invoked the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Moscow Mechanism on July 28 to examine the Russia’s adherence to its OSCE Human Dimension commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms. In the report released today in Vienna , the expert mission found that a …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 23 September, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Key Documents, News, Official Reports, Press Releases, Reports
ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE FOREIGN PRESS CENTER NEW YORK, N.Y. SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 REMARKS SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, everyone. Before we begin, let me just take a moment to again welcome the safe return of Mark Frerichs, an American Navy veteran who spent more than two and a half years in captivity in …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 20 September, 2022 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Key Officials, Speeches, U.S. Secretary of State
MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 President Putin’s unjustified war against Ukraine puts millions around the globe at risk of increasing food insecurity. The Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s largest exporters of food, has led to the damage or outright destruction of many of Ukraine’s arterial roads, railways, …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 16 September, 2022 | Topics: Agriculture, Europe & Eurasia, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, News, Press Releases, Reports
09/09/2022 07:21 PM EDT Ned Price, Department Spokesperson The United States is deeply concerned by the Russian Government’s escalating, arbitrary interference with Aleksey Navalny’s rights. Prison authorities have interfered with Navalny’s preparation of his defense and ability to communicate freely with his counsel, including through supervision of his meetings and imposed delays in the exchanges …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 12 September, 2022 | Topics: Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Press Releases
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield U.S. Representative to the United Nations New York, New York September 7, 2022 AS DELIVERED Thank you, Mr. President. And also thank you to Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Assistant-Secretary-General Kehris for your briefings. And thank you so much, Ms. Drik, for offering a stark and credible view on the situation from a civil …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 8 September, 2022 | Topics: Europe & Eurasia, Human Rights, Key Officials, News, Speeches
REMARKS ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE DR. KARI JOHNSTONE, ACTING DIRECTOR OFFICE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS BEN FRANKLIN ROOM WASHINGTON, D.C. JULY 1, 2021 MS JOHNSTONE: Good afternoon, and welcome. My name is Kari Johnstone. I am the acting director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Thank …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 2 July, 2021 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases
PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 1, 2021 During this year’s Pride Month, we celebrate an important message: “You are Included.” The diverse experiences, perspectives, and contributions of the State Department community make our institution stronger and advance the goals of American diplomacy. Out of many, we are one. The Department has committed to increasing U.S. engagement on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 1 June, 2021 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State
PRESS STATEMENT NED PRICE, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON FEBRUARY 25, 2021 We are disturbed by reports that a Russian court sentenced Valentina Baranovskaya and her son, Roman Baranovsky, to terms of two and six years in a Russian penal colony, respectively, simply for being practicing Jehovah’s Witnesses. The sentencing of Valentina, a 69-year-old stroke victim, is particularly …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 25 February, 2021 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases
The United States is committed to a world in which human rights are protected, their defenders are celebrated, and those who commit human rights abuses are held accountable. Promoting respect for human rights is not something we can do alone, but is best accomplished working with our allies and partners across the globe. President Biden …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 24 February, 2021 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases, Speeches, U.S. Secretary of State
U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, John J. Sullivan Moscow City Court, February 3, 2021 – Appeal hearing of U.S. citizen Trevor Reed Ambassador Sullivan: Well, good afternoon, everyone. I’m John Sullivan, the U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation. I have been here today to attend the court proceeding, the appellate proceeding, for Trevor Reed, …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 3 February, 2021 | Topics: Ambassador, Human Rights, News
“We all must continue to strive for global respect for the inalienable rights belonging to all individuals, regardless of their race, gender, sexual identity, disability, or any other characteristic. Over the course of my career, I have seen the progress that can be made when nations invest in the protection of human rights of all …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 10 December, 2020 | Topics: Ambassador, Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, Policy, Video
On Friday, July 17, our country lost a civil rights icon, Representative John Lewis, following a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. When he was diagnosed with the disease, John Lewis took it in stride, stating that he had been in some kind of fight – for freedom, equality, and basic human rights – for nearly …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 20 July, 2020 | Topics: Ambassador, Human Rights, News, Press Releases, Speeches
United States Mission to the OSCE As prepared for delivery by Political Counselor Gregory Macris to the Permanent Council, Vienna For Immediate Release July 5, 2018 I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the release of the 2018 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on June 28. The theme of the 2018 TIP Report is, …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 6 July, 2018 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Reports
United States Mission to the United Nations Office of Press and Public Diplomacy As delivered by Political Counselor Gregory Macris to the Permanent Council, Vienna For Immediate Release July 5, 2018 Thank you, Mr. Chair. Less than two months ago, the United States joined other participating States at the Permanent Council in expressing concern about …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 5 July, 2018 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, News
Statement by Spokesperson Heather Nauert: We are troubled by the news that the head of the local Chechen branch office of the Russian human rights NGO Memorial, Oyub Titiev, has been arrested. This is the latest in a string of reports of alarming recent human rights violations in Chechnya. We call on Chechen authorities to …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 11 January, 2018 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases
Heather Nauert, State Department Spokesperson: “The Russian Supreme Court’s decision this week against the Jehovah’s Witnesses is the latest in a disturbing trend of persecution of religious minorities in Russia. We urge the Russian authorities to lift the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses’ activities in Russia, to reverse the closing of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Administrative Center, …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 July, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases
Heather Nauert , Department Spokesperson: “Today, we mark with sadness the eighth anniversary of the murder of human rights defender and journalist Natalya Estemirova and the thirteenth anniversary of the murder of American journalist and editor Paul Klebnikov, both killed in Russia. Ms. Estemirova, renowned for her writing and activism on human rights abuses in …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 15 July, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases
White House Spokesperson Sean Spicer: “[T]he United States strongly condemns the detention of hundreds of peaceful protestors throughout Russia that happened on June 12th. Detaining peaceful protestors, human rights observers, and journalists is an affront to core democratic values. The United States will monitor the situation, and we will call on the government of Russia …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 13 June, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases
Press statement by spokesperson Nauert: “We are gravely concerned about the safety and well-being of Murad Amriev, a Russian athlete from Chechnya, who was reportedly detained by Belarusian authorities and returned to Russia, where he may be in custody. Mr. Amriev has reportedly expressed fears of torture and abuse in Chechnya. We urge the Russian …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 9 June, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks at the United Nations Human Rights Council on June 6, 2017.
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 7 June, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases, Speeches
Deputy State Department Spokesperson Toner: We are deeply troubled by the Russian Government’s decision to designate Open Russia, the Open Russia Civic Movement, and the Institute of Modern Russia as so-called “undesirable” foreign organizations. We reject the notion that these and other international civil society organizations are a threat to Russia. If Russia hopes to …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 29 April, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Press Releases
As president of the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, chaired a thematic debate on human rights. The debate marked the first time the Security Council held a meeting dedicated exclusively to human rights and its link to international peace and security, giving Security Council members the …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 April, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Policy, Press Releases
“We continue to be disturbed by reports of kidnapping, torture, and murder of people in Chechnya based on their sexual orientation and those persecuted by association. If true, this violation of human rights cannot be ignored – Chechen authorities must immediately investigate these allegations, hold anyone involved accountable, and take steps to prevent future abuses…”
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 18 April, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Policy, Press Releases
“The United States strongly condemns the detention of hundreds of peaceful protesters throughout #Russia on Sunday. Detaining peaceful protesters, human rights observers, and journalists is an affront to core democratic values. We were troubled to hear of the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny upon arrival at the demonstration, as well as the police raids …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 27 March, 2017 | Topics: Fundamental Freedoms, Human Rights, News, Policy, Press Releases
The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices are the State Department’s most-read publication by far. Over 1 million readers access them online every year. And, says Michael Kozak, a senior adviser in the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, those readers can sort the accompanying online database by country or by issue, like the human rights of women or …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 7 March, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Policy
As delivered by Deputy Chief of Mission Kate M. Byrnes to the Permanent Council, Vienna January 19, 2017 The United States is concerned about the December 28 decision by Chechnya’s Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of Zhalaudi Geriev, a local independent journalist. Mr. Geriev was detained by authorities April 16, 2016 near Grozny. Members …
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By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 January, 2017 | Topics: Human Rights, News, Political Affairs, Speeches, U.S. & Russia
