Ambassador Holland highlights how Russia's domestic repression underpins its war of aggression against Ukraine, including a crackdown on dissent, the detention of political prisoners and pressure on civil society.
Thank you, Mr Chair. Let me start with condolences on the awful incident in Ternopil yesterday. According to Ukrainian officials, at least 25 people, including three children, were killed in a Russian missile and drone attack which struck two residential buildings. More than 70 others were wounded, including a further 15 children. We condemn this abhorrent attack and, once again, remind Russia of its obligations under International Humanitarian Law. Our thoughts and sympathies go to all those affected.
Mr. Chair, the reason we're here at the OSCE is because our predecessors agreed a set of principles, and that we should support each other to fulfil them and hold each other to account against them. It is therefore important to remind ourselves of the Helsinki drafters' recognition that there is a link between a state's level of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and its capacity to cause instability. So, it's not surprising that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and brutal attacks such as the one in Ternopil, have long been underpinned by domestic repression. This was already evident in 2022 when the Moscow Mechanism report said of Russia: "Repression on the inside and war on the outside are connected to each other as if in a communicating tube." That observation remains just as relevant today. Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine did not occur in isolation. It was enabled by the systematic dismantling of fundamental freedoms at home.
And in the fourth year of Russia's war, Russia's dire domestic human rights record continues to deteriorate. The Kremlin crushes peaceful dissent, persecutes minorities, and maintains a climate of fear. According to independent monitors OVD-Info, there are over 1,800 political prisoners, including many jailed for opposing the illegal invasion of Ukraine. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Russia has found that torture is "widespread" within the judicial system, and that political prisoners are routinely denied medical treatment or placed in forced psychiatric detention.
The Russian authorities have used legislation to systematically crack down on civil society and independent media. NGOs are branded "foreign agents" or "undesirable organisations," forcing hundreds to shut down. Independent outlets have been silenced, and criticism of the war has been criminalised with sentences of up to 15 years. More than 300 media outlets have been forced to suspend their activities. In July 2024, Russian courts handed down prison sentences in absentia, eight years to journalist Masha Gessen and eight and a half years to author Mikhail Zygar, on charges of disseminating "fake news" about Russian military activity in Ukraine. These actions violate Russia's obligations under the OSCE Copenhagen Document, the Astana Declaration, and international law, including Articles 19 and 20 of the ICCPR.
Despite this climate of repression, ordinary Russians continue to make their views known. Recent polling, including a Kremlin-endorsed survey by VtSIOM, indicates that 56% of Russians are "very tired" of the so-called Special Military Operation, and 61% favour an immediate ceasefire. While the Kremlin might argue that these numbers reflect support for ending the war, albeit on its own terms, the reality is more complex. The polling does not signal broad endorsement of the Kremlin's position, but rather highlights a society burdened by war fatigue, economic decline, and the erosion of basic rights. Moreover, the Kremlin's lack of constructive engagement in US-led peace negotiations undermines its claims of seeking a genuine resolution. This is not the narrative of a united nation behind its leadership, but evidence of growing disillusionment and desire for change.
Mr Chair, Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its repression at home are two sides of the same coin. Both are failing. The Kremlin's attempt to silence dissent has not extinguished the voices calling for peace. And its attempt to subjugate Ukraine has been met with determined resistance.
The UK, alongside our partners, will continue to stand firm in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We reiterate that Russia must uphold its international obligations and release all political prisoners. These principles are not negotiable. They are the foundation of security and stability in the OSCE. Thank you.
