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More than 20 journalists and dissidents were freed, including Wall Street Journal<\/em> reporter Evan Gershkovich, Radio Liberty<\/em> journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and recent Pulitzer Prize winner Vladimir Kara-Murza.<\/p>\n The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, has repeatedly advocated for their release.<\/p>\n \u201cI can’t even believe it,\u201d she said in an exclusive interview with UN News.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIn the dark times in which we live, when every day in Russia there are new detentions, new trials, and the news reports every day about shocking human rights violations, suddenly there is such good news.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms. Katzarova reported that many people in Russia \u2013 human rights defenders, members of civil society \u2013 were \u201cjust crying with joy\u201d that day.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is really an unprecedented diplomatic act. And this may be the largest group of political prisoners exchanged since the Cold War,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, today we are glad that, in the end, people who should not have been convicted in the first place were released, such as Vladimir Kara-Murza, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, Oleg Orlov, Sasha Skochilenko, members of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, Lilia Chanisheva and Ksenia Fadeeva, and others.\u201d<\/p>\n But while rejoicing, the rights expert urged the international community not to forget the political prisoners who remain behind bars, who number at least 700, though some estimates but the figure at more than 1,000.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we must once again call for their immediate and unconditional release from prisons in Russia,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey shouldn’t be there. They are there on charges for expressing their position against the war against Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n She estimated that at least 33 journalists are in jail \u201cprecisely because they have written reports and materials” against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cToday we must remember that this exchange and this release of political prisoners took place without Alexei Navalny,\u201d she noted, referring to the opposition politician who died earlier this year in a Siberian prison.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he had survived, then he would have to be part of this exchange,\u201d she insisted.<\/p>\n Special Rapporteurs like Ms. Katzarova are part of the so-called Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.<\/p>\n They are mandated to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues.<\/p>\n These experts work on a voluntary basis and are independent from any government or organization.\u00a0 They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nGood news in dark times<\/h2>\n
Release all political prisoners<\/h2>\n
Remembering Alexei Navalny<\/strong><\/h2>\n