Russia bans Human Rights Watch amidst ongoing crackdown on dissent

On Friday, Russian authorities officially labeled Human Rights Watch as an undesirable organization, invoking a 2015 law that criminalizes involvement with such entities. This ruling forces the international human rights group to halt all activities in Russia and exposes anyone assisting or associating with the organization to legal action.

Philippe Bolopion, executive director of Human Rights Watch, commented, For more than thirty years, our monitoring of post-Soviet Russia has called on the government to protect human rights and freedoms. Our mission remains unchanged, but the government has intensified its authoritarian measures, increased repression dramatically, and expanded the scale of war crimes committed by its forces in Ukraine.

The decision by the Russian prosecutor general is part of a broader crackdown on Kremlin critics, journalists, and activists, a campaign that has escalated since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In a separate announcement on Friday, Russian authorities revealed they are pursuing legal action to classify the feminist punk band Pussy Riot as an extremist organization. Additionally, on Thursday, Russias Supreme Court designated the Anti-Corruption Foundation, founded by the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny, as a terrorist organization. The ruling specifically targeted the foundations U.S.-registered branch, which became a central hub after Russia previously deemed the original Anti-Corruption Foundation undesirable in 2021.

The foundation issued a statement warning, It is clear that more organizations will soon be branded as terrorist including independent media, human rights projects, and local initiatives. This is a political tactic by Russian authorities to label anyone challenging their corruption and endless war as an enemy of the state.

Currently, Russias registry of undesirable organizations includes over 275 entities, encompassing independent news outlets, rights organizations, and advocacy groups. Notable examples include Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Chatham House, Transparency International, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Established in 1978, Human Rights Watch investigates human rights abuses globally. The organization has strongly criticized Russias invasion of Ukraine and recently reported on Russian forces using drones to target civilians in the Kherson region.

Author: Sophia Brooks