Russian Falun Gong Takes Case to European Court of Human Rights

Practitioners learned of the decision on July 20 when it was posted on the court’s website.

 

The lawyers representing Falun Gong cite numerous violations in the court proceedings and remain convinced that the case is politically motivated by pressure from the Chinese regime.

 

[Mikhail Sinitsyn, Lawyer Representing Falun Gong Practitioners]:

“The key reason that these court proceedings were initiated and that we are now facing another unlawful decision is without a doubt because of pressure from the Chinese communist regime, especially since its officials who are now facing more than 60 lawsuits in 29 countries around the world for genocide [against Falun Gong].”

 

The implications of the Supreme Court’s decision could potentially be severe.

 

Publishers may not continue printing the book. Stores may not sell it. Those possessing it risk arrest.

 

The anti-extremist law has raised a lot of concerns internationally in the past 2 years.

 

[Mikhail Sinitsyn, Lawyer Representing Falun Gong Practitioners]:

“On June 20th the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe issued a report about our [anti-extremism] law, in which they confirm what our legal community and human rights advocates have been saying all along: the terms used in the law are so vague that they can be applied to practically anything.”

 

Lawyers representing the Russian Falun Gong community have applied to the European Court of Human Rights for redress.

 

Meanwhile, in Europe the case of religious freedom for Falun Gong in Russia has been raised more at the most recent human rights dialogue with Russia.

 

[Maja Kocijancic, Spokesperson to HRVP Catherine Ashton]:

“Our general position of the European Union is very clear, which is that freedom of religion, freedom of expression should be respected and this is the message that we are constantly passing on.”

 

Moreover, the rule of law is a key point in EU-Russia relationship moving forward.

 

[Maja Kocijancic, Spokesperson to HRVP Catherine Ashton]:

“In this respect the rule of law is one of the issues that are very thoroughly addressed, and  looked at and in order for Russia to obtain any kind of visa-free system with the European Union we need to be confident that there are certain standards and certain rules that are respected, that basic human rights are equally respected.”

 

Falun Gong is practiced freely in over 70 countries, but the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) routinely either interferes directly or tries to pressure other governments to restrict the rights of Falun Gong practitioners outside China.

 

The CCP thus seeks to justify the persecution in China and limit overseas efforts to expose abuses. 

 

According to Mr. Chen Yonglin, a former high-ranking official with the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney, Australia who defected to the West in 2005, every Chinese mission around the world has staff dedicated to suppressing and stifling Falun Gong practitioners in the host country.

 

NTD News, Moscow, Russia