A/HRC/42/30 and in a follow up letter on 30 August 2018. 149 The Committee urged the Government to stop the targeting of indigenous leaders and human rights defenders, including incumbent and former United Nations special procedures mandate holders, as terrorists, which could amount to intimidation and reprisals. In August 2018, UN experts urged further action to remove names on the Government’s “terror list.”150 85. On 21 June 2019, the Government responded to the allegations. Regarding the situation of the Commission on Human Rights, the Government stated that contrary to the allegations of reprisals, it has further cultivated enabling conditions and environment for the work of the Commission with the unprecedented increase of its 2017 budget by over 60% from its regular budget. With reference to the statement by the Presidential spokesperson, the Government indicated that it exercises full rights to legitimately respond to public statements by other actors and that labelling Government’s statements as acts of reprisals and intimidation is a curtailment of the role of State actors in any democratic process. Regarding the case of Senator de Lima, the Government provided detailed information on the legal proceedings and the status of the ongoing cases against her, indicating that it is improper to intervene with regard to her detention and prosecution in light of concerns for the independence and impartiality of the judicial process. 86. Concerning the situation of Karapatan, the Government indicated that it is unlawfully operating since its corporate existence and registration have long been ordered revoked for the non-filing of reports. In view of the Government, Karapatan has failed to substantiate its figures concerning human rights violations or present evidence before an independent domestic body created to look into the allegations. Regarding the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the Government states that some indigenous peoples and rights defenders have been exploited by terrorist organizations and misuse the international system and its sympathies, calling State efforts to uphold the rule of law, bring perpetrators to justice, and put an end to atrocities these groups commit with impunity as “acts of reprisals.” 23. Russian Federation 87. Reported acts of harassment, surveillance, threats, and intimidation against Ms. Yana Tannagasheva and Mr. Vladislav Tannagashev and their families, representatives of the Shor indigenous peoples from South West Siberia, as reprisals for cooperation with the CERD, were included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, para. 63, Annex I, paras. 90–91). In April 2018, as a consequence of the threats, they left Russia with their children. In May 2018, CERD raised their situation with the State party and, in June 2018, special procedures mandate holders raised concerns with the authorities (RUS 11/2018;151 OTH 34/2018; A/HRC/40/60/Add.1, paras. 512 and 677). On 12 September 2018, the Government responded to the allegations by special procedures and noted a preliminary investigation into the harassment and a criminal case was refused on 28 April 2018 on the basis of “absence of a crime.” On 26 July 2018 this decision was overturned by the supervising procurator, and further investigations were ongoing. On 24 July 2019 the Government provided an update to OHCHR and noted that the investigation was ongoing. 88. In September 2018, in the context of the UPR of the Russian Federation, States made recommendations regarding restrictive legislation, in particular, laws on “foreign agents” and “undesirable” organizations (A/HRC/39/13, paras. 147.61–67; 147.83–95). Since 2012, the Russian Federation has adopted a number of laws and amendments that have reportedly had a direct impact on the willingness and ability of civil society actors to engage with international bodies, in particular with the UN. Human rights organizations have been impacted primarily by the application of laws and policies such as N 121-FZ 149 150 151 62 https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CERD/Shared%20Documents/PHL/ INT_CERD_ALE_PHL_8761_E.pdf. OHCHR, “The Philippines: UN experts urge further action to remove names on Government’s “terror list,” (20 August 2018). Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/ DownLoadFile?gId=34329. GE.19-15332