Simone Lawson
Russia's constitution does include provisions to protect the rights of minorities, including small indigenous peoples of the North and Far East, who maintain traditional lifestyles in a challenging environment. However, many religious scholars and human rights organisations have raised concerns about abuses against minorities in Russia. The U.S. State Department considers Russia one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has also expressed concern about the lack of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in Russia, and the impact of recent legislative changes on the rights of minorities, particularly regarding their access to land and natural resources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Freedom of conscience | Guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution |
| Religious freedom | Violated, according to the U.S. State Department |
| Human and civil rights | Protected by the Constitution |
| Rights of national minorities | Protected by the Constitution |
| Indigenous peoples' rights | Protected by legislation passed after the fall of the Soviet Union |
| Anti-discrimination legislation | Not comprehensive, according to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2007 |
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What You'll Learn
Freedom of conscience
The Russian Constitution of 1993 (rev. 2014) includes provisions for the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as the rights of national minorities. However, in practice, Russia has been criticised for its treatment of minorities. Religious scholars and human rights organisations have spoken out about abuses taking place in Russia against minorities, and the U.S. State Department considers Russia one of the world's "worst violators" of religious freedom.
Russia is home to small indigenous peoples in the North and Far East, who maintain traditional lifestyles while adapting to the modern world. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation passed legislation to protect the rights of these small northern indigenous peoples. This includes agreements between indigenous representatives and oil companies to compensate for potential damage to people's habitats due to oil exploration.
Despite these protections, there have been concerns about setbacks in minority participation in public life, including the removal of federal provisions for quotas for indigenous people in regional legislatures. In 2007, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe expressed concern that Russia had not adopted comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, and existing anti-discrimination provisions are seldom used despite reported cases of discrimination.
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Religious freedom
The Russian Constitution of 1993 (rev. 2014) includes provisions for the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as the rights of national minorities. However, many religious scholars and human rights organisations have spoken up about abuses taking place in Russia against minorities. The U.S. State Department considers Russia one of the world's "worst violators" of religious freedom.
Alvaro Gil-Robles has emphasised that the amount of state support provided by federal and regional authorities varies for different religious communities. For example, Catholics are not always heeded as well as other religions by federal and local authorities. Vladimir Lukin noted in 2005 that citizens of Russia rarely experience violations of freedom of conscience (guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution).
Russia is home to small indigenous peoples of the North and Far East, who maintain traditional lifestyles in hazardous climatic environments. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation passed legislation to protect the rights of these small northern indigenous peoples. Gil-Robles has noted agreements between indigenous representatives and oil companies, which are to compensate for potential damage to people's habitats due to oil exploration.
However, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe noted in 2007 that the social and economic situation of these numerically small indigenous peoples had been affected by recent legislative amendments at the federal level, removing some positive measures regarding their access to land and other natural resources. The Committee also expressed concern that Russia still has not adopted comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, and that existing anti-discrimination provisions are seldom used despite reported cases of discrimination.
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Indigenous rights
The Russian Federation 1993 (rev. 2014) Constitution includes the regulation and protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as the protection of the rights of national minorities. However, many religious scholars and human rights organisations have spoken up about the abuses taking place in Russia against minorities. The U.S. State Department considers Russia one of the world's "worst violators" of religious freedom.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation passed legislation to protect the rights of small northern indigenous peoples. This includes agreements between indigenous representatives and oil companies, which are to compensate for potential damage to people's habitats due to oil exploration. However, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe noted in 2007 that the social and economic situation of numerically small indigenous peoples was affected by recent legislative amendments at the federal level, removing some positive measures regarding their access to land and other natural resources.
In 2004, Gil-Robles noted that minorities are generally represented on local and regional authorities and participate actively in public affairs. However, the Committee of Ministers in 2007 noted certain setbacks in minority participation in public life, including the abrogation of federal provisions for quotas for indigenous people in regional legislatures.
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Discrimination legislation
The Russian Federation 1993 (rev. 2014) Constitution includes provisions for the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as the rights of national minorities. However, many religious scholars and human rights organisations have spoken up about abuses taking place in Russia against minorities. The U.S. State Department considers Russia one of the world's "worst violators" of religious freedom.
In 2005, Vladimir Lukin noted that citizens of Russia rarely experience violations of freedom of conscience (guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution). However, Alvaro Gil-Robles emphasised the varying levels of state support provided by federal and regional authorities for different religious communities. For example, Catholics are not always heeded as well as other religions by federal and local authorities.
Russia is home to small indigenous peoples of the North and Far East, who maintain traditional lifestyles in a hazardous climatic environment. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation passed legislation to protect the rights of these small northern indigenous peoples. This includes agreements between indigenous representatives and oil companies to compensate for potential damage to people's habitats due to oil exploration.
However, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe expressed concern in 2007 that Russia has not adopted comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. They noted that existing anti-discrimination provisions are seldom used despite reported cases of discrimination. In addition, they highlighted setbacks in minority participation in public life, including the abrogation of federal provisions for quotas for indigenous people in regional legislatures.
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Minority participation in public life
The Russian Constitution of 1993 (rev. 2014) includes provisions for the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as the protection of the rights of national minorities. However, many religious scholars and human rights organisations have spoken up about abuses taking place in Russia against minorities. The U.S. State Department considers Russia one of the world's "worst violators" of religious freedom.
Despite this, minorities are generally represented on local and regional authorities and participate actively in public affairs. Gil-Robles emphasised the degree of cooperation and understanding between the various nationalities living in the same area, as well as the role of regional and local authorities in ethnic dialogue and development.
However, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May 2007 expressed concern that Russia still has not adopted comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, and the existing anti-discrimination provisions are seldom used despite reported cases of discrimination. They also noted certain setbacks in minority participation in public life, including the abrogation of federal provisions for quotas for indigenous people in regional legislatures.
Russia is home to a particular category of minority peoples, i.e. small indigenous peoples of the North and Far East, who maintain very traditional lifestyles, often in a hazardous climatic environment, while adapting to the modern world. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation passed legislation to protect the rights of these small northern indigenous peoples.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Russian constitution protects the rights of national minorities.
The Russian constitution guarantees freedom of conscience (article 28) and protects the rights of national minorities.
No, all minority groups in Russia are protected by the constitution. However, there have been reports of abuses against minorities, and the U.S. State Department considers Russia one of the world's "worst violators" of religious freedom.
Minorities in Russia have the right to participate in public affairs and local and regional authorities. They also have the right to own and manage land and other natural resources.
The Russian government has passed legislation to protect the rights of minorities, including small indigenous peoples of the North and Far East. They have also established agreements between indigenous representatives and oil companies to compensate for potential damage to people's habitats due to oil exploration.
