US concerned over ongoing pressure on civil society in Russia

The US voiced Friday its "serious concern" over "ongoing pressure" on civil society and the rule of law in Russia. Deputy Spokesperson of Department of State Marie Harf said in a statement on May 6, 2012, thousands of Russians "took to the streets of Moscow to demand fair elections and government accountability." She added a Russian court convicted today eight of those protestors "of rioting and violence against police in a politically-motivated trial that points to serious concerns about due process and rule of law in Russia."We have seen numerous prosecutions of activists, journalists, and opposition politicians since 2012, including the recent case of environmental activist Yevgeniy Vitishko, sentenced to three years in jail for reportedly spray-painting a fence," she ntoed. She stressed "we reiterate our serious concerns about the ongoing pressure on civil society in Russia." She affirmed that the US "continues to support the rights of all Russian citizens to exercise their fundamental freedoms, regardless of their political views."