A/HRC/4/58 page 9 23. Russian Federation. On 6 December 2006, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders sent a letter of allegation to the Government of the Russian Federation concerning the International Protection Centre (IPC), a Russian human rights organization that assists Russian citizens in having access to international mechanisms of human rights protection, and its founder Karinna Moskalenko, a lawyer. Specifically, IPC has brought a number of cases before the Human Rights Committee and the European Court of Human Rights in relation to alleged human rights violations committed by the Russian authorities. 24. According to the information received on 17 July 2006, IPC was fined 4 million roubles by the Russian tax authorities, based on the accusation that the organization had failed to pay taxes in respect of foreign grants received between 2002 and 2004. It appears that IPC had officially declared these grants dedicated to human rights research and education purposes, but the authorities had not requested IPC to pay any taxes on them. However, a tax inspection examined IPC’s activities and it may possibly hold IPC’s directors criminally liable. As IPC is currently unable to pay the aforementioned fine, it will be forced to close. Reports further indicate that in December 2005, a representative of the Russian Federation at the European Court of Human Rights requested the lawyers registry body of the Ministry of Justice to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Ms. Moskalenko and to have her disbarred. 25. Concerns were expressed that the above events may be connected with the human rights activities of IPC and particularly Ms. Moskalenko’s advocacy work bringing human rights cases before the European Court on Human Rights and the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations. C. General issues of concern 26. The reported acts of reprisal range from harassment, intimidation, attempts to impose disciplinary sanctions or criminal charges meant to prevent lawful professional activities of human rights defenders, arbitrary arrest or torture in custody. At best, the alleged victims have to endure harassment or intimidation or are subjected to judicial proceedings designed to put an end to their cooperation with United Nations human rights bodies, or intended as reprisals against such cooperation. Information received also includes accounts of human rights defenders who have been retaliated against for having provided information that was subsequently used by Special Rapporteurs in their communications with Governments. Other human rights defenders were reportedly intimidated after they met with United Nations representatives or participated in various United Nations human rights meetings to share information or provide testimony about alleged human rights violations. Victims also suffer violations of the most fundamental human rights, including the right to liberty and security of person. 27. The alleged victims of these abuses are private individuals, lawyers, human rights defenders or members of non-governmental organizations who were or have been sources of information about human rights violations for United Nations human rights bodies or who had met with their representatives. There are also disturbing allegations of family members of victims of human rights violations who have also been the target of intimidation and reprisals.