G7 vow to fight transnational repression

June 18, Pozirk. The G7 leaders, who gathered in Canada’s Kananaskis yesterday, committed to developing resilience and response mechanisms to fight transnational repression (TNR), including aggressive foreign interference, their statement says.

States engaged in TNR directly or via their proxies attempt to intimidate, harass, harm or coerce individuals or communities outside their borders, to undermine national security, human rights and persecute dissidents, journalists, minorities and diasporas, it noted.

Political leaders said the G7 will redouble efforts to keep its communities safe, defend human rights, including the freedom of expression online and offline and safeguard sovereignty.

Response measures include the launch of a digital TNR detection tool, support to potential victims and civil society activists, including through initiatives like the Canada-UK Common Good Cyber Fund, they stressed.

The signatories condemned all acts of TNR, including threats or acts of physical violence, misuse of international cooperation and abuse of extraterritorial laws to arrest and persecute regime critics and forcing dissidents to return by confiscating passports, invalidating documents or denying consular services.

“We also remain seized of threats by foreign states and their proxies to our citizens outside our borders, such as arbitrary detention,” the statement reads.

Many Belarusians—who left their country, fearing politically-motivated persecution—have been targeted by transnational repression perpetrated by the government in Belarus.

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