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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was researched and co-authored by Allison Gill, consultant and former director of Human Rights Watch’s Russia office. The report was edited by Katy Glenn Bass, Deputy Director of Free Expression Programs at PEN American Center. Report design was done by Suzanne Pettypiece. PEN thanks all those who kindly agreed to be interviewed for this report. PEN extends special thanks to Serensamuu Budatsyrenova, May Zhee Lim, Anna Shwedel, Elena Skochilo, and Hannah Treasure for research assistance. 26 PEN AMERICAN CENTER
APPENDIX 1 PEN AMERICAN CENTER LETTER TO THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. January 11, 2016 His Excellency Ambassador Sergey Kislyak Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States Embassy of the Russian Federation 2650 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20007 Dear Ambassador Kislyak, I am writing on behalf of PEN American Center, an organization of writers dedicated to defending free expression and celebrating literature, and part of a network of over 140 PEN Centers worldwide. We are currently preparing a report on free expression in Russia, including Russia’s compliance with its obligations to protect free expression under its Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The report focuses primarily on access to information online and free expression in cultural and intellectual areas including book publishing, children’s literature, and theater. We are preparing to release the report at the end of the month, and would like to give the Russian government the opportunity to have its views included in the report. We would appreciate any response the government would like to offer to the following questions by Friday, January 22. 1. In recent years the government has taken steps to block or remove materials from many online sources of news and information, including the websites of news media outlets and social media sites. What measures is the government taking to uphold its obligation to protect freedom of the press for all media outlets, regardless of the views expressed by those outlets, and to protect the freedom to seek and impart information for all citizens? 2. Several laws passed in recent years, including the 2002 anti-extremism law and its subsequent amendments, the 2010 Law on the Protection of Children from Harmful Information and its subsequent amendments, and the law criminalizing insulting the feelings of religious believers, have been widely criticized for violating the right to free expression. Is the government considering any measures to amend or repeal these laws to ensure they comply with Russia’s obligation to protect free expression? 3. In determining whether to grant state funding to news media and to cultural institutions, does the government attempt to influence the content produced by those institutions awarded funding? 4. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has noted its concern that Russia’s law requiring non-governmental organizations that receive foreign funding or engage in political activity to register as “foreign agents” has an adverse impact on freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and has urged the government to repeal or revise the law. Does the government intend to repeal the law or to amend it to ensure that it is in compliance with Russia’s obligation to protect free expression? Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to your reply. Sincerely yours, Katherine Glenn Bass Deputy Director, Free Expression Programs PEN American Center DISCOURSE IN DANGER: ATTACKS ON FREE EXPRESSION IN PUTIN’S RUSSIA 27
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Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Introduction 4 Overview an
Page 5 and 6: The Kremlin, Moscow OVERVIEW AND ME
Page 7 and 8: Amendments to anti-extremism laws h
Page 9 and 10: REGULATING THE INFORMATION SPACE: R
Page 11 and 12: Previously hailed as the last basti
Page 13 and 14: Izvestia newspaper building PHOTOGR
Page 15 and 16: “We are all carriers of a Soviet
Page 17 and 18: Irina Balakhonova, editor in chief
Page 19 and 20: CLOSING INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL S
Page 21 and 22: ultra-Russian Orthodox activists ag
Page 23 and 24: Protesters attached stickers with t
Page 25: a foreign-backed attempt to undermi
Page 29 and 30: author of the interviewee) as well
Page 31 and 32: public Organizations” and “On n
Page 33 and 34: 12 Id. at art. 19; U.N. Human Right
Page 35 and 36: 41 Art. 1, Regulation No. 228 of th
Page 37 and 38: 73 Tanya Lokshina, Dispatches: Russ
Page 39 and 40: 103 E-mail from Ilya Danishevsky, d
Page 41 and 42: duma-approves-abrupt-advertising-ba
Page 43 and 44: 177 Radical Russian Orthodox Activi

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