The Russian government has imposed a permanent entry ban on UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer, placing him on a list of 103 Canadian citizens sanctioned by Moscow for what it described as involvement in “anti-Russian activities.”
The announcement was made yesterday by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which accused those named of “discrediting the constitutional order and foreign policy” of Russia and of activities “aimed at the unlawful confiscation of sovereign Russian state assets.”
Those blacklisted along with Neuer include Canadian cabinet ministers, senators, MPs, the defence chief and Canada’s former ambassador to Russia, William Westdal.
Neuer, a Canadian citizen and international human rights advocate, led the campaign to expel Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, and works closely with Russian dissidents to fight abuses by the Putin regime.
UN Watch, an independent non-governmental human rights organization based in Switzerland, which leads the 25-NGO coalition that holds the annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, has campaigned for the freedom of imprisoned Russian dissidents, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, hosted democracy leaders such as Garry Kasparov and family members of Alexei Navalny, and amplified the voices of Ukrainian victims of Russian aggression. (Click here to see UN Watch’s action for human rights in Russia.)
Over two decades, Neuer has often taken the floor at the United Nations to challenge Russia’s human rights record.
“Badge of Honor”
“Being banned by Vladimir Putin’s regime is not a punishment, but a badge of honor,” said Neuer. “Russia is one of the world’s leading jailers of political opponents, a serial violator of human rights, and the aggressor in a brutal war against Ukraine. If speaking out for freedom, democracy, and human rights earns me a place on the Kremlin’s blacklist, then I accept it proudly.”
“Russia can add my name to whatever list it wants. It won’t change the facts, and it won’t change our work,” said Neuer. “The Kremlin’s blacklist is not a deterrent. It only motivates us to keep fighting the Kremlin’s repression. We will continue standing with Russian dissidents, exposing human rights abuses, speaking for the victims of Russia’s aggression.”
Russia Lashes Out Over Ukraine
Russia’s statement lashed out at Canada’s “political elite” for its “hostile line” and “denying Russia’s rights and interests,“ and condemned Ottawa for “interference in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation.” supporting “the neo-Nazi authorities in Kyiv,” and “encouragement of the Kyiv junta to commit terrorist acts.”
Neuer dismissed the Kremlin’s allegations. “Russia’s rulers fear scrutiny because they cannot defend their record,” said Neuer. “From the murder of political opponents to the imprisonment of dissidents, from the bombardment of Ukrainian cities to systematic repression at home, the Kremlin has built a system sustained by force, censorship, and intimidation.”
Neuer joins a long list of human rights defenders, journalists, lawmakers, democratic leaders and celebrities who have been blacklisted or sanctioned by Moscow for criticizing the regime, including Senator John McCain, Garry Kasparov, Bill Browder, Anthony Blinken, Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn, and Ben Stiller.
“History teaches that authoritarian governments often target their critics abroad when they cannot silence them at home,” he said. “The proper response is not silence, but more truth-telling.”
“Russia can bar me from entering its territory,” said Neuer. “It cannot bar us from exposing injustice. UN Watch will continue to speak out for the victims of tyranny, whether in Moscow, Tehran, Beijing, Caracas, or anywhere else.”
Founded in 1993, UN Watch is a Geneva-based independent human rights organization that monitors the performance of the United Nations according to the principles of its Charter.
