Russian authorities have officially labeled Human Rights Watch an "undesirable organization." This decision makes the group's work in Russia illegal. The law, which was first created in 2015, means that anyone who works with or supports the organization can be prosecuted. All of Human Rights Watch's activities in Russia must now stop immediately.
The government announced the decision on Friday, saying it was necessary to protect the country's security. This is the latest step in a larger effort to silence people and groups who criticize the government. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this campaign has become much stronger. The government often uses laws to stop journalists, activists, and organizations that question its actions.
In response, a leader from Human Rights Watch, Philippe Bolopion, said his group has been reporting on human rights in Russia for thirty years. He stated that while his organization's work has not changed, the Russian government has become much more authoritarian. He also talked about increasing political repression and human rights abuses by Russian forces in Ukraine.
At the same time, the government has started legal action against other groups. It wants to label the protest group Pussy Riot as "extremist." In another important case, Russia's Supreme Court has called the Anti-Corruption Foundation a "terrorist" organization. This foundation was started by the late opposition leader Alexey Navalny.
These actions make it very difficult for independent groups and political opposition to exist in Russia. Experts say that political freedoms in the country have fallen dramatically, especially since the war in Ukraine began.