Russia: Amnesty back in Moscow after being expelled

Human rights group Amnesty International said today that it could start working again from its Moscow office after the city authorities, who earlier this month evicted the group, made a U-turn and agreed to a new lease.

“Amnesty Moscow office opened and a new lease signed today,” Amnesty’s Europe director John Dalhuisen wrote on social media, adding an emphatic “Back to work.”

Amnesty staff had turned up at their office in central Moscow on 2 November to find that the locks had been changed and the power cut off. The Moscow city municipal authorities, from which Amnesty leases the premises, said it was owed rent.

Amnesty said payments were up to date. The group has been a vocal critic of Russia over its bombing campaign in Syria and had said it believed the eviction might be part of an official crackdown on civil society groups.

Moscow city officials agreed to talks with Amnesty soon after the issue was raised by a Russian human rights representative at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.