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Russia’s Human and Religious Rights Record Criticized at House Hearing

February 27, 2020

Russia's human rights record, including its history of mistreating religious minorities, is worsening, according to testimony at a hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday (Feb. 27).

"Unfortunately, the human rights situation in Russia continues to deteriorate, and just when you think things can't get any worse, they do," said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., co-chair of the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights, at the hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building.

The hearing held by the bipartisan congressional human rights commission marked the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Boris Nemtsov, prominent opposition leader and critic of power abuses under Russian President Vladimir Putin. Other panelists reported on Russia's targeting of LGBTQ individuals, environmentalists and media outlets. Some panelists noted that the attitudes and actions of the Russian government when it comes to human rights differ from the country's broader public.

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