Doc. 11258
18 April 2007

Falun Gong practitioner expelled from Russia

Written question No 523 to the Committee of Ministers
presented by Mr Lindblad

Ms Hui Ma, a Chinese Falun Gong practitioner and resident in St. Petersburg, was expelled from her home by Russian immigration officers together with her 7-year-old daughter. The mother and daughter were then sent back to China.

The UN Refugee Office in Russia has recognized Ms. Ma as a refugee. Her status is, however, rejected by the Russian immigration authorities. The case has been in the process of appeal. Initially the appeal case would be heard at a court on 30 March 2007. Though, the Russian Immigration Office decided to expel Ms Hui Ma and her daughter to Beijing.

The behaviour by Russian authorities seems to follow a certain pattern. It is contradictory to a UN decision and everything that the Council of Europe stands for. Therefore I repeat the question I have put before in order to know what steps and measures the Committee of Ministers will take to make the Russian Federation conform to its obligations as member of the Council of Europe.

Signed ¹:

LINDBLAD, Göran, Sweden, EPP/CD

¹     SOC: Socialist Group
      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
      EDG: European Democratic Group
      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
      NR: not registered in a group