MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova has raised alarm bells over pressure the US authorities are exerting against members of the Russian-language community, and called on international human rights activists to note that the rights of Russians in the US are being violated.
"I am concerned over unprecedented pressure against members of the Russian-language community from the US authorities, which resulted in multiple searches and interrogations of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the USA, eventually forcing [it] to suspend its operations," the statement of the Russian ombudswoman made available to TASS said.
"I am calling on my colleagues, all representatives of the international human rights community, to note the facts that the rights of compatriots located in the US to preserve the national cultural identity and to freely maintain ties both within the diaspora and with their historical homeland have been violated," she stressed.
As the ombudswoman noted, many members of the Russian-language community and members of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the USA (KSORS) were targets of investigations over alleged breaches of the foreign agents law. "At the same time, the activity of the KSORS has exclusively humanitarian purposes, directed at the support of Russian compatriots, the preservation and popularization of the Russian language and cultural and historical heritage, and is carried out on a voluntary basis. This kind of activity cannot be viewed as violating US legislation," she emphasized.
"I deeply regret that the complex political situation is being additionally heated up by these actions of US government agencies that continue to apply groundless pressure on members of the Russian-language diaspora," she concluded.
On November 18, the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots of the USA announced the suspension of its activities after over "a year of active and nationwide FBI measures targeting more than 300 Russian community members, from students to seniors." According to the Council, several of its members and representatives of the Russian community were subjected to probes over "violations of the FARA Act."