Its authors noted that this includes statements that coincide with the official position of the aggressor country.
“Restrictive measures against scientists have a negative impact on human rights. […] “Such actions constitute a clear violation of academic freedom, which guarantees scholars the opportunity to question accepted views, challenge prevailing opinions and put forward new ideas, including those that may be controversial or unpopular,” the statement said.
Its authors write about “harassment and intimidation,” as well as “attempts to coerce the expression of any opinion.”
The UN noted that the authors of the statement write that “the sanctions have dire practical consequences”, “some scientists are losing their jobs, cannot use banking services, move freely and provide themselves with a decent life.”
UN experts called on the European Union to lift sanctions against scientists and analysts.
The statement makes no mention of the fact that the Russian Federation is waging a full-scale war against Ukraine and uses propaganda, including foreigners, to justify it.
The authors of the statement identify five supposedly independent people, including a representative of Belarus, an ally of Russia, the director of the Center for Peace Research at the Belarusian State University, Alena Dukhan.
Other experts: Professor from Kenya Attia Waris, Professor from Greece George Katrougalos, Professor from Great Britain Alexandra Xantaki and Farida Shahid from Pakistan. All of them are UN special rapporteurs on various issues.
