The current document presents a situation of police harassment towards a human rights lawyer in Kabardino-Balkaria. Human Rights Watch call on the Russian government to demonstrate its commitment to the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers by effectively and impartially investigating the threats against Matsev and by taking appropriate action. Further, Human Rights Watch calls for the government to abide by its international obligations to allow lawyers and activists in the North Caucasus to engage in human rights work safely. Reference is made to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and specifically to guarantees for the functioning of lawyers.