We remind the public that on October 21, 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs admitted in a statement to mixing tear gas with water in water cannons during protests against the Russian law. To justify this practice, the Ministry misrepresented and manipulated Amnesty International’s guidelines. In reality, Amnesty International explicitly states that mixing tear gas or paint with water cannons should be prohibited. This practice is highly problematic for several reasons, including:

 • It is unknown what the permissible concentration level of a chemical irritant in water is that poses a significant risk to human health.

 • When clothing is soaked with a chemical irritant, a person can no longer escape its effects.

 • In addition, when a person’s clothing is soaked, it is impossible to control the degree and duration of exposure to a chemical irritant. Given that health risks increase with increasing concentration and duration of exposure to chemicals, mixing water and chemicals violates the obligation of law enforcement officers to minimize harm. 

• Mixing chemicals in a water jet is also a discouraged practice according to the guidelines of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as this carries a much higher risk of causing injury, including prolonged physical pain.

 In addition, according to the experience of the demonstrators, the water jet is cold, which, given the low temperature outside, further creates grounds for inhumane treatment. We once again call on the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to disobey illegal orders and stop dispersing peaceful demonstrators in a manner tantamount to a crime. 

We also call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to disclose the chemical contents of the means it uses, including for medical purposes, to ensure that medical personnel have the necessary information to respond appropriately to affected individuals.