Situation of Human Rights in the Russian Federation

In her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council, Mariana Katzarova, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, described the Kremlin’s escalation of repressions as a deliberate strategy to eliminate dissent. The vague and overly broad laws – on “foreign agents,” “undesirable organizations,” “discrediting the armed forces,” “disseminating fake news” about the army, “terrorism,” and “extremism” – remain instrumental in facilitating politically motivated prosecutions. Impunity – for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, widespread torture, and ill-treatment – persists. “Justice inside Russia is unattainable,” Katzarova stressed, calling on the international community to mobilize accountability frameworks, including universal jurisdiction.