Freedom of expression is limited in Russia, especially for government critics. The Russian government controls media by restricting the internet and television, and newspapers practice widespread self-censorship. Those who express unwelcome views face pressure from authorities. New legislation further restricts freedom of expression. The government also jails and assassinates opposition leaders and journalists who criticize the government or Putin. Over 25 journalists have been assassinated since Putin took office.

1. Freedom of Expression in Russia
As much as the freedom of expression is a right in most if
not all countries, the enjoyment of this right has been very
limited in Russia especially for the critics of the government.
Freedom of information in Russia has been of concern to many
human rights activists. Russia violates people’s human right to
freedom of information and expression by controlling the
media, by jailing dissenters, and by killing journalists who
write or report anything that is against the government or Putin.
Russia controls the media by controlling the internet, television
and the newspapers. There is widespread self-censorship in the
media. Those who give views that are unwelcome but the
officials and authorities in the government quickly get
pressured by the state or private individuals that have links to
the government. Satellite and cable channels are trying to avoid
this pressure and most of them are remaining apolitical and are
choosing to focus more on entertainment. The National TV and
various other mainstream media are under the control of the
Russian government and are used to speak ill of opposition
political leaders.
New legislation was passed in Russia that stifles freedom of
expression by controlling the media.
Print and broadcast media are increasingly closed if they allow
views that are critical of the government or Putin.
Most people turn to the internet to express their views or get
information. However, even this platform came under the
control of the government. According to Amnesty International
various laws were passed in the country that gave power to the

2. government to restrict the information that was being posted on
the internet and how activities were being organized on the
Internet (Amnesty International, 2014). So Russia violates its
people’s human right to express themselves and know what is
going on in the world around them.
Another way that Russia violates people’s freedom of
expression and information is by jailing and even killing
opposition leaders and dissenters. Since Putin took office, the
opposition has been under the government’s attack. People who
think to oppose Putin is either sentenced to a long jail term or
assassinated. Some opposition leaders have been killed. Among
them is Alexander Litvinenko who was a former officer of the
Russian secret police, and he had been poisoned with a
radioactive substance in 2006. Natalia Estemirova was one of
the leading human rights defenders in Russia. She investigated
cases of grave human rights violations in Chechnya. In 2009,
she was murdered.
(Sky News, 2015). Many of the people in opposition have
chosen not to protest but rather to leave Russia or just ignore
what is happening and move on with their lives.
Not only does Russian violate people’s human right to
expression by killing dissidents but Russia also controls the
freedom of expression in the country by assassinating
journalists who write or report anything that is against the
government and the presidency of Putin. Most of the journalist
who is known to air the views that are against the government
are harassed, assaulted and even assassinated. A good example
is that of Ann Politkovskaya who had written articles highly
critical of Putin was killed in 2006 near her apartment (Amnesty
International, 2014). Data collected has indicated that about 25
journalists in Russia have been assassinated since Putin took
over the office in 2000. This has made the journalists to avoid
saying anything that will be considered to be against the
government and Putin as president.

3. References
Amnesty International (2014). Violation of The Right To
Freedom of Expression, Association And Assembly In Russia.
Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=w
eb&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwibhL_L-
PDPAhVIfRoKHfbDCZsQFggdMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fam
nesty.org.pl%2Fwp-
content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F01%2FRosja-Naruszenie-
prawa-do-wolnosci-
wypowiedzi.pdf&usg=AFQjCNEEM_bVzIlRDunCCOjnZRWf3i
d_lA&sig2=0F1MK6xqA8NHAThHDaTvnA on October 23,
2016
Sky News (2015). The Putin Critics Who Have Been
Assassinated. Retrieved from
http://news.sky.com/story/the-putin-critics-who-have-been-
assassinated-10369350 on October 23, 2016

4. Freedom of Expression in Russia
As much as the freedom of expression is a right in most if
not all countries, the enjoyment of this right has been very
limited in Russia especially for the critics of the government.
Freedom of information in Russia has been of concern to many
human rights activists. Russia violates people’s human right to
freedom of information and expression by controlling the
media, by jailing dissenters, and by killing journalists who
write or report anything that is against the government or Putin.
Russia controls the media by controlling the internet, television
and the newspapers. There is widespread self-censorship in the
media. Those who give views that are unwelcome but the
officials and authorities in the government quickly get
pressured by the state or private individuals that have links to
the government. Satellite and cable channels are trying to avoid
this pressure and most of them are remaining apolitical and are
choosing to focus more on entertainment. The National TV and
various other mainstream media are under the control of the
Russian government and are used to speak ill of opposition
political leaders.
New legislation was passed in Russia that stifles freedom of
expression by controlling the media.
Print and broadcast media are increasingly closed if they allow
views that are critical of the government or Putin.
Most people turn to the internet to express their views or get
information. However, even this platform came under the
control of the government. According to Amnesty International
various laws were passed in the country that gave power to the
government to restrict the information that was being posted on
the internet and how activities were being organized on the
Internet (Amnesty International, 2014). So Russia violates its
people’s human right to express themselves and know what is

5. going on in the world around them.
Another way that Russia violates people’s freedom of
expression and information is by jailing and even killing
opposition leaders and dissenters. Since Putin took office, the
opposition has been under the government’s attack. People who
think to oppose Putin is either sentenced to a long jail term or
assassinated. Some opposition leaders have been killed. Among
them is Alexander Litvinenko who was a former officer of the
Russian secret police, and he had been poisoned with a
radioactive substance in 2006. Natalia Estemirova was one of
the leading human rights defenders in Russia. She investigated
cases of grave human rights violations in Chechnya. In 2009,
she was murdered.
(Sky News, 2015). Many of the people in opposition have
chosen not to protest but rather to leave Russia or just ignore
what is happening and move on with their lives.
Not only does Russian violate people’s human right to
expression by killing dissidents but Russia also controls the
freedom of expression in the country by assassinating
journalists who write or report anything that is against the
government and the presidency of Putin. Most of the journalist
who is known to air the views that are against the government
are harassed, assaulted and even assassinated. A good example
is that of Ann Politkovskaya who had written articles highly
critical of Putin was killed in 2006 near her apartment (Amnesty
International, 2014). Data collected has indicated that about 25
journalists in Russia have been assassinated since Putin took
over the office in 2000. This has made the journalists to avoid
saying anything that will be considered to be against the
government and Putin as president.

6. References
Amnesty International (2014). Violation of The Right To
Freedom of Expression, Association And Assembly In Russia.
Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=w
eb&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwibhL_L-
PDPAhVIfRoKHfbDCZsQFggdMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fam
nesty.org.pl%2Fwp-
content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F01%2FRosja-Naruszenie-
prawa-do-wolnosci-
wypowiedzi.pdf&usg=AFQjCNEEM_bVzIlRDunCCOjnZRWf3i
d_lA&sig2=0F1MK6xqA8NHAThHDaTvnA on October 23,
2016
Sky News (2015). The Putin Critics Who Have Been
Assassinated. Retrieved from
http://news.sky.com/story/the-putin-critics-who-have-been-
assassinated-10369350 on October 23, 2016