A/HRC/54/61 Nations, were included in the 2013, 2014 and 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 reports of the Secretary-General.154 126. During the reporting period, multiple United Nations actors expressed concerns over new legislative developments, and the impact of the long-term application of the aforementioned legislation.155 Between July and November 2022, special procedures mandate holders noted concerns over the amendments that had come into force on 1 December 2022 to the Foreign Agents Law of 2012, including “on control over the activities of persons being under foreign influence” (RUS 16/2022), 156 while reiterating concerns over the Law itself and its subsequent amendments. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders raised concerns about the introduction of prison terms of up to eight years for those convicted of “confidentially co-operating, including with an international organization”, if the cooperation aims to assist in “activities knowingly aimed against the state security”.157 127. 128. In its concluding observations adopted on 31 October 2022, the Human Rights Committee noted concern about provisions on “foreign agents” and “undesirable” organizations, and their expansion, including through the law broadening the categories of “foreign agents” to include additional groups 158 as well as the new law criminalizing confidential cooperation with foreign States and international or foreign organizations 159 (CCPR/C/RUS/CO/8, para. 30 (c)). The Committee noted the significant restrictions that the application of these laws has imposed on the activities of numerous human rights organizations, leading even to closures. 129. In its concluding observations adopted on 25 April 2023, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) noted concerns about the low number of civil society organizations operating and registered in the State party and the unusually low level of submissions by civil society organizations in the context of the consideration of the report of the State party. The Committee considers that this may be attributed to the closure of many domestic organizations because of the restrictive legal framework (CERD/C/RUS/CO/25-26, paras. 18 and 19). 24. Saudi Arabia 130. The case of Mr. Mohammad Fahad Al Qahtani, of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACRPA), was included in the 2012, 2013, 2019, 2020 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General160 on allegations of interrogation, travel ban and sentencing to 10 years of imprisonment for providing false information to outside sources, including UN human rights mechanisms. Special procedures mandate holders have addressed his situation repeatedly with the relevant authorities, including allegations of acts of reprisals for his 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 GE.23-15378 A/HRC/24/29, paras. 29–31; A/HRC/27/38, para. 43; A/HRC/30/29, Annex II para. 3; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 88; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 105–107; A/HRC/48/28 Annex II, paras. 111– 114; A/HRC/51/47, Annex II, paras. 126–127. OL RUS/16/2022; CCPR/C/RUS/CO/8, para. 30 (c)). CERD/C/RUS/CO/25-26, paras. 18 and 19. See also A/HRC/50/23, para. 26; https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/07/russia-un-expertscondemn-civil-society-shutdown. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/09/russia-un-expert-alarmed-continued-targetinghuman-rights-defenders. This refers to Federal Law No. 121-FZ dated 20 July 2012 (“Foreign Agents Law”) with subsequent amendments as well as the Federal Law No. 255-FZ dated 14 July 2022 broadening different categories of “foreign agents” to new groups. This refers to Federal Law No. 260-FZ adopted on 14 July 2022 (CCPR/C/RUS/CO/8, 32). This law introduced new Article 275.1 in the Criminal Code on ‘Cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organization’ which criminalizes the establishment and maintenance by a Russian citizen of ‘relations of cooperation’ on a confidential basis with a representative of an international organization (among others) in order to assist them in activities knowingly directed against the security of the Russian Federation. A/HRC/21/18, paras. 35–37; A/HRC/24/29, para. 42; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 92; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, para. 114; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II, paras. 119–120. 69