UN General Assembly, 80th session, 3rd Committee
Interactive dialogue with the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation
Statement by Sweden, on behalf of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland Latvia, Lithuania, Norway
New York, 27th of October 2025
We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report on the human rights situation in the Russian Federation and welcome the extension of her mandate.
We have witnessed an alarming escalation of repression within the Russian Federation since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As the report highlights, this includes the systematic abuse of public safety and national security legislation to suppress independent voices and consolidate authoritarian control as well as the systematic and widespread use of torture. The Russian Federation’s violations of international law, including the human rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians are appalling.
The report gives cause for grave concern and underlines the need for continued international attention to the human rights situation in Russia. We deplore that the Russian Government has made no attempt to implement recommendations from earlier reports.
We reiterate our call on the Russian Federation to respect its obligations under international human rights law, to cooperate with all UN human rights mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur, and to grant them unhindered access to its territory.
We also urge the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally release the thousands who remain arbitrarily detained, including journalists as well Ukrainian civilians in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and within the Russian Federation.
Madame Special Rapporteur,
Which issues do you consider most urgent during your extended mandate?
Thank you.