Russia
Today, Russia is more repressive than it has ever been in the post-Soviet era. The authorities crack down on critical media, harass peaceful protesters, engage in smear campaigns against independent groups, and stifle them with fines. Foreign organizations are increasingly banned as “undesirable,” and Russian nationals and organizations are penalized for supposed involvement with them. A new law enables Russian authorities to partially or fully block access to the internet in Russia in the event of undefined “security threats” and gives the government control of the country’s internet traffic, enhancing its capacity to conduct fine-grain censorship. Impunity for egregious abuses by security officials in Chechnya remains rampant.

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Europe/Central Asia
December 23, 2020
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Russia: Growing Internet Isolation, Control, Censorship
Authorities Regulate Infrastructure, Block Content
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Russia: Health Workers Face Retaliation for Speaking Out
Frontline Staff Raise Safety Concerns During Covid-19 Pandemic
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Russia: As Pandemic Grows, Migration Detention Deadlock
With Risk of Spreading Covid-19, Government Should Find Alternatives
News
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Russia: No Light at the End of the Tunnel
Covid-19 Overwhelmed Health Care, Created Opportunities for Repression
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Combating Domestic Violence is Dangerous Work in Russia
Another Women’s Rights Group Could Be Labeled a “Foreign Agent”
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Personal Data of Thousands of Covid-19 Patients Leaked in Moscow
Robust Data Security Safeguards Should Be Put in Place
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Human Rights Lawyer Ordered to Leave Russia
Seeking and Securing Justice for Victims of Abuse Seen as “Threat”
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The Dangerous Job of Protecting the Environment in Russia
Environmental rights groups in the country are facing severe harassment by the authorities.
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New Law Would Expand Internet Censorship in Russia
Parliament Should Reject Bill, Ensure Access to Information Online