World Press Review on human rights in Russia (January 31, 2013)

The Washington Post published an article "HRW: Worst year for human

rights in Russia since the USSR collapsed".

"The year 2012 began with thousands of Russians taking to the streets

to demand reform and a government that would obey the law. On

Thursday, the group Human Rights Watch said Russia has just gone

through its worst year for human rights since the collapse of the

Soviet Union more than two decades ago," the newspaper writes.

“We can’t be silent about the situation in Russia today,” the

Washington Post cites Rachel Denber, who presented the Human Rights

Watch annual report here. The authorities, whom she characterized as

“aggressive and cynical,” have equated human rights work with

violating Russian sovereignty, she said. “Any activity can be

portrayed as betrayal.”