Study says Russia holding 236 political prisonersA new report backed by rights group Memorial accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of increasingly trying to curb dissentRussia is holding 236 political prisoners, a significant increase over the past few years as President Vladimir Putin goes on the offensive against perceived threats, a study backed by human rights advocates said Monday.The number compares with 46 political prisoners on a February 2015 list by Memorial, the veteran Russian civil society movement that supported the latest study. The study said Russia has been able to jail opponents through its "notoriously vague" prohibitions, such as bans on hooliganism and insulting religious feeling. SEE ALSO :Teams look to grab the first two quarterfinal spotsThe jailing of opponents had ended with the fall of the Soviet Union, with former president Boris Yeltsin freeing the last political prisoners. The study also called for world leaders to be more vocal in drawing attention to human rights in Russia. Moscow has in the past defended its record on human rights, saying it has differing conceptions than the West, and has hit back by accusing the United States of holding political prisoners.

Source: Standard Digital April 29, 2019 15:33 UTC