COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
Law No. 98-ФЗ Amending Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation on the Prevention and Response of Emergencies
The law gives the prime minister the power to declare a nationwide state of emergency on account of "the spread of a disease that poses danger to others" and to establish mandatory rules of conduct. The law also provides that elections and referenda may be postponed when a state of emergency is in effect. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 1 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Elections
Type: law
Law No. 100-FZ Introducing Changes to the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code
The amendments to Russia's Criminal Code establish new penalties for violations of quarantine orders, according to which an individual who violates the orders may be punished with fines or prison time--ranging from 40,000 rubles ($640) to up to 7 years in prison if the quarantine violation causes two or more deaths. The amendments also establish that public dissemination of false information that threatens the public health during an emergency is punishable by 3 years in prison, or up to 5 years if it leads to "grave consequences." (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 1 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Disinformation, Press Freedom, Expression, Access to Information, Movement
Type: law
Decree on measures to ensure sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing of Russian Population
The executive order suspends activities of all state and private organizations and individual enterpreneurs (with some exceptions); establishes special procedures for restrictions on movement within territories (without providing specifics); and authorizes the implementation of "restrictive and other measures" during the period of April 4-30, 2020.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 2 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Association, Movement
Type: order
Decree of Mayor of Moscow № 34-УМ
Pursuant to powers available under the state of high alert, this order suspends various recreational activities, including by closing playgrounds, museums and movie theaters. It also suspends retail activities and provision of face-to-face services. The order imposes self-quarantine and self-reporting requirements, along with social distancing requirements and restrictions on public transportation. All public events are prohibited until April 10, 2020.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 29 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement
Type: order
Decree of the Mayor of Moscow No. 26-УМ
The Mayoral decree among other things prohibits gatherings of more than 50 individuals. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 23 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: order
CCTV Cameras to Enforce Quarantine Measures in Moscow
Authorities are using a network of 100,000 new CCTV cameras on the streets of Moscow, controlled from a centralized COVID-19 control center, to enforce quarantine measures using facial recognition.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 24 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Surveillance, Privacy
Type: practice