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Russia

Last updated: May 9, 2026

Recent Developments

While we aim to maintain information that is as current as possible, we realize that situations can rapidly change. If you are aware of any additional information or inaccuracies on this page, please keep us informed; write to ICNL at ngomonitor@icnl.org.

Introduction

Although the Constitution of the Russian Federation (RF) guarantees the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression, Russia has experienced a steady tightening of civic space since the mid-2000s. Legislative amendments have expanded state power to monitor, audit, and restrict the activities of civil society organizations (CSOs). A major turning point came with the adoption of the 2012 “foreign agent” law, which required non-commercial organizations (NCOs) receiving foreign funding and engaging in broadly defined “political activity” to register as foreign agents (FAs), thereby stigmatizing such organizations as acting on behalf of foreign interests and imposing onerous reporting requirements under threat of administrative sanctions, including fines and suspension of activities. Subsequent legislation extended the “FA” label to media outlets and individuals (2017–2020), and culminated in the 2022 Law on Foreign Influence, which consolidated these mechanisms into a single framework. Almost any individual or organization may be designated as an FA, facing substantial restrictions on activities and extremely burdensome requirements. The laws have progressively tightened control over, and restricted the activities of, foreign NCOs operating in Russia, beginning with the introduction of the concept of “undesirable organizations” in 2015, which, in legal treatment, is equated with that of terrorist organizations. Foreign funding is largely inaccessible, domestic sources remain limited, and public assemblies are subject to strict notification rules and location bans. In conjunction with laws criminalizing “disrespect for authorities,” “fake news,” and extremism, these measures have created a highly restrictive environment for independent civic activism, human rights advocacy, and political dissent. As a result, Russia’s civil society sector faces severe barriers its formation, operation, and international cooperation.

On March 16, 2022, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided that the RF would cease to be a member of the Council of Europe with effect from that date. On June 7, 2022, the Russian parliament adopted legislation terminating the jurisdiction and enforceability of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and on February 28, 2023, the RF denounced the European Convention on Human Rights, along with other Council of Europe treaties.

Civic Freedoms at a Glance

Organizational Forms1) Corporate entities, which are those where founders (participants, members) have the right to participate in their management (that is, they gain the right of membership), including consumer cooperatives, public organizations, associations (unions), political parties, and trade unions.
(2) Unitary entities are those where founders may not acquire the right of membership, including public charitable funds, private institutions, autonomous non-commercial organizations, and religious organizations.
Registration BodyMinistry of Justice
Approximate Number222,335 as of January 30, 2026
Barriers to FormationCertain persons may not become founders, members, or participants.
Registration procedures are overly bureaucratic, with excessive documentation requirements.
Extensive list of reasons for denial of registration of local NCOs and of offices of foreign NCOs.
Barriers to OperationsBurdensome reporting requirements.
Government’s supervisory powers allowing for interference with the internal affairs of NCOs.
PAs must be registered and carry out activities depending on the territory on which they plan to operate.
Broad grounds for inclusion in the Unified Registry of FAs by the MoJ.
Restrictions and heightened compliance burdens for FAs.
Broad grounds for suspension of activities and termination of NCOs.
Prohibition of activities of “undesirable organizations” and of participation of any kind in activities of such organizations.
Barriers to ResourcesNCOs that carry out broadly defined political or other qualified activities and receive support from foreign sources or are under “foreign influence” are designated as FAs. The FA designation results in extreme requirements and restrictions and discourages NCOs from seeking any support from a foreign source. 
Individuals and entities are prohibited from receiving assets from “undesirable” organizations.
Barriers to ExpressionImportant barriers to expression have been the designation of FA status, as well as charges related to extremism and “fake news”/libel under administrative and criminal law.
Barriers to AssemblyStrict regulation of public mass events with administrative and criminal penalties for violations.

This section provides a brief overview of Russia’s legal framework for the promotion and protection of civic freedoms. Click a subheading for more, or click here to expand all subheadings.

This section provides an in-depth assessment of Russia’s legal environment for civic freedoms, including the barriers to the exercise of the freedoms of association (formation, operations, resources), expression, and peaceful assembly. Click a subheading for more, or click here to expand all subheadings.

ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS

Article 50 of the Civil Code identifies a list of 15 organizational-legal forms for NCOs, including consumer cooperatives, public organizations (including public movements), associations (unions), homeowners’ associations, Cossack communities, communities of indigenous small population groups, public benefit foundations (including public, charitable, and private foundations), institutions, notary chambers, chambers of advocates, advocate’s units (as legal entities), autonomous non-commercial organizations, religious organizations, public law companies, and state corporations.

Article 65.1 of the Civil Code divides legal entities, including non-commercial legal entities, into two types:

Unitary legal entities, in which founders do not acquire membership rights, including state and municipal unitary enterprises, public benefit foundations, private foundations, institutions, autonomous noncommercial organizations, religious organizations, state corporations, and public law companies.

Corporate legal entities, in which founders, participants, and members have the right to participate in management (membership rights); including, for example, consumer cooperatives, public organizations, associations (societies), notary chambers, chambers of advocates, partnerships of realty owners, Cossack communities, and communities of indigenous small population groups; and

PUBLIC BENEFIT STATUS

NCOs may register as charities under the Charities Law. While this status entails heightened reporting and other obligations, it does not provide distinct tax or other benefits.

In April 2010, amendments to the NCO Law introduced the concept of socially-oriented NCOs (SONCOs), which are potentially eligible for state support. SONCOs are defined as NCOs carrying out activities in one or more of 21 public benefit areas identified in the Law on NCOs (Article 31.1), including such areas as social services, social protection and support of citizens, activities in support of family, motherhood, and childhood, preparation of the population to respond to natural disasters, ecological, technogenic or other catastrophes, prevention of accidents, provision of support to victims of natural disasters, social , national or religious conflicts, forced migrants, protection of the natural environment and animals, etc. State authorities may establish additional priority areas for the purpose of supporting SONCOs.

Since 2016, the NCO Law (Article 31.4) established an additional SONCO category – a provider of public benefit services (PPBS), which enjoys extra benefits compared to other SONCOs. A PPBS is a SONCO that is not a FA, does not have outstanding liabilities for taxes, fees, or other mandatory payments under the legislation of the RF, and meets one of the following requirements:

  • provision of socially useful services of adequate quality for at least one year;
  • proper implementation of projects providing for the implementation of activities in one or more priority areas relating to the provision of socially useful services using Presidential grants provided for the development of civil society.

The government maintains registries of SONCOs and PPBS. NCOs included in these registries are recipients of most of state support. FAs or human rights organizations, or other organizations perceived by the government as opposing its policies, are typically not included in these registries.

For the forms of state support and tax incentives for NCOs, see the section on State Funding.

BARRIERS TO FORMATION

Public associations (PAs), the most common type of NCO, may only be founded by natural persons and other public associations (Article 6 of the Law on PAs). Both natural and legal persons, including commercial entities, may serve as founders of all other forms of NCOs.

Russian law imposes several restrictions on who may found, join, or participate in an NCO. Foreign nationals and stateless persons legally residing in the Russian Federation may serve as founders, members, or participants in NCOs. The following categories of persons are prohibited from serving as founders, members, or participants in NCOs (Article 15 of the NCO Law):

  • foreign nationals or stateless persons included in the registry of persons under foreign influence;
  • individuals on the government’s money laundering and terrorist financing watch lists;
  • organizations suspended under the Law on Countering Extremist Activities;
  • individuals found by a court decision to have participated in extremist activity;
  • persons who do not qualify to be founders of specific types of NCOs under legislation governing those types;
  • persons against whom the authorized state body has issued a decision to freeze bank accounts on suspicion of money laundering, terrorist financing, or extremist activity;
  • individuals currently serving a criminal sentence;
  • persons included in UN lists relating to terrorist organizations, terrorists, or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
  • persons recognized as associated with an “undesirable” organization in the RF.

All NCOs must complete state registration in accordance with the law. The registration process for all types of NCOs is considered burdensome, requiring submission of extensive documentation to the authorized governmental body. The same is true for foreign NCOs seeking to establish affiliate or representative offices in Russia.

State registration of an NCO may be refused on the following grounds:

  • if the charter and other documents of the NCO submitted for state registration contradict the legislation of the RF;
  • if an NCO with the same name has already been registered;
  • if the name of the NCO offends public morality or the national and religious feelings of citizens;
  • if the documents required for state registration have not been submitted in full or have been submitted to an incorrect authority;
  • if the person who acted as a founder of an NCO is not eligible to act as a founder under the law;
  • if the decision to reorganize, liquidate an NCO, amend its charter, or change legally required information is made by a person or persons not authorized to do so under federal law and/or the charter of the NCO;
  • if it is established that the documents submitted for state registration contain inaccurate information.

State registration of a branch of a foreign NCO may also be refused on the following grounds:

if a branch of a foreign NCO previously registered in the territory of the RF was liquidated in connection with a gross violation of the legislation of the RF.

if the goals of establishing a branch of a foreign NCO contradict the legislation of the RF;

if the goals of establishing a branch of a foreign NCO pose a threat to the sovereignty, political independence, territorial inviolability, and national interests of the RF.

BARRIERS TO OPERATIONS

Allowed Activities

NCOs must carry out activities in compliance with the goals set out in their bylaws.

PAs must be registered and carry out activities depending on the territory on which they plan to operate:

  • All-Russian status allows a PA to carry activities on the entire territory of the RF, but it requires that a PA operate in more than half of all subjects (regions) of the RF, and register offices in those regions.
  • Interregional status allows a PA to carry activities in less than half of the subjects of the RF and requires a PA to have registered offices in those regions.
  • Regional status allows a PA to carry out activities within a particular region.
  • Local status allows a PA to carry activities only within the limits of a territory under the management of a local self-governing (municipal) body.

Territorial requirements do not apply to other types of NCOs.

Laws regulating NCOs establish additional requirements for various types of NCOs. See the section on Obligations and Restrictions for Foreign Agents for additional restrictions on activities of NCOs designated as FAs.

Reporting Requirements

PAs and NCOs face extensive reporting requirements.

General Procedure for Reporting by NCOs to the MoJ

NCOs are required to submit to the MoJ:

  1. a report on the activities of the NCO and information on the composition of its governing bodies (form ON0001) (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year);
  2. a report on the expenditure of funds and the use of other property, including funds and property received from foreign sources (form OH0002) (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year).

NCOs must post these reports on the Internet or submit them to the mass media for publication (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year).

Simplified Procedure for Submission of Reports by NCOs to the MoJ (does not apply to PAs)

The simplified procedure applies where all of the following conditions are met:

  1. among the founders, participants, and members of an NCO there are no foreign citizens or organizations, nor stateless persons;
  2. the NCO did not receive property and funds from foreign sources during the reporting year;
  3. the total receipts of property and funds during the year did not exceed 3 million rubles.

If all three conditions are met, an NCO submits:

  1. an application confirming compliance with the above conditions (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year);
  2. information, in any form, confirming the continuation of its activities (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year);
  3. such information must also be posted on the Internet or submitted to the mass media for publication (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year).

Procedure for Reporting by PAs to the MoJ

PAs shall submit:

  1. a report on the continuation of activities, indicating the actual location of the permanent governing body, its name, and information on managers corresponding to the data included in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year);
  2. a report on the amount of funds and other property received from foreign sources, on the purposes of spending these funds and the use of other property, and on their actual expenditure and use (form ON0003) (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year).

PAs shall publish a report on the use of their property or otherwise make such report publicly available (annually, not later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year).

Procedure for Reporting by Charitable Organizations

Charitable organizations shall submit reports in accordance with their organizational-legal form. In addition, they shall submit an annual report on their activities in any form, containing information on:

  1. financial and economic activities confirming compliance with the requirements of the Federal Law “On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organizations” on the use of property and expenditure of funds of a charitable organization;
  2. the composition of the supreme governing body of the charitable organization;
  3. the composition and content of the charitable programs of the charitable organization (including a list and description of these programs);
  4. the content and results of the charitable organization’s activities;
  5. violations of the requirements of the Federal Law “On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organizations” revealed as a result of inspections conducted by the tax authorities, and measures taken to eliminate them.

This report shall be submitted to the MoJ in person or by mail by March 30 of the year following the reporting year.

Reporting methods

NCOs shall submit reports to the MoJ directly, or by post with an inventory of enclosures, or by posting them on the information resources of the MoJ on the Internet intended for posting reports and messages, access to which is carried out through the official website of the MoJ on the Internet, www.unro.minjust.ru.

Reports and messages may additionally be posted on the Internet on the website of the NCO and on other sites on the Internet. The period of posting reports and messages on the Internet shall not be less than one year. 

Information on the date of birth, data of an identity document, and address (place of residence) of members of the governing body of an NCO shall not be posted online. 

A report or message shall be sent for posting on the information resources of the MoJ on the Internet by filling out the report or message form contained on the website or by attaching a file containing a completed report or message. 

The date of posting shall be deemed to be the date on which public access is granted.

NCOs-FAs mustsubmit the following reports to the MoJ:

  1. a report on their activities, including a report on the implementation of programs and the execution of other documents that are the basis for the activities, or information that the relevant activities have not been carried out, as well as information on the objectives of the activities, the structure, the territory within which the activities are carried out, the address (location) of the governing body at which the communication with the FA is carried out, and changes in the charter — biannually;
  2. information on the founders (members, participants) and on the personal composition of the governing bodies and employees — biannually;
  3. information on foreign sources, including the amount of funds and other property received from these sources, including bank accounts used to carry out the activities of the FA, the purposes and scope of their intended distribution (spending, use), the purposes and volume of distribution (spending, use), the receipt of organizational, methodological, scientific, and technical assistance, and other forms of assistance from foreign sources — quarterly;
  4. information on the submission of the auditor’s report to the state information resource of accounting (financial) statements — annually;
  5. programs declared for implementation and being implemented, and other documents that are the basis for carrying out activities — annually;
  6. posting on the Internet or publication in the mass media of reports on their activities according to forms approved by the MoJ.

Procedure for Submission of Reports by Structural Subdivisions of Foreign NCOs to the MoJ

Structural subdivisions of foreign NCOs shall submit to the MoJ:

  1. a report on the amount of funds and other property received by this structural unit, their intended distribution, and on the purposes of their expenditure or use (form SP0001) (quarterly, no later than the last day of the month following the reporting quarter);
  2. report on the actual expenditure or use of funds and other property, as well as on the expenditure of the specified funds provided to individuals and legal entities and on the use of other property provided (form SP0002) (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year);
  3. information on the programs proposed for implementation in the territory of the RF (form SP0003) (annually, no later than October 31 of the year preceding the year in which the program will be implemented); and
  4. an auditor’s report received from a Russian audit organization or a Russian individual auditor (annually).

Structural subdivisions of foreign NCOs shall post these reports on the Internet or submit them to the mass media for publication (annually, no later than April 15 of the year following the reporting year).

Oversight

The law provides the registration authorities broad powers to interfere in activities of NCOs.

Article 32 of the NCO Law authorizes the MoJ to:

  • carry out unscheduled inspections of the activities of an NCO, based on the expiration of the term established for elimination of the violation for which the MoJ previously issued a notification; the receipt by the MoJ of information from other state bodies about an NCO committing an offense or carrying out activities conflicting with its statutory goals, or activities containing signs of extremism; at the request of the prosecutor’s office; or the receipt of information about participation of an NCO in the activities of an “undesirable” organization, among other grounds;
  • request from the management bodies of an NCO their administrative documents, with the exception of documents containing protected information;
  • request and receive information on the financial and economic activities of NCOs from state statistics bodies, the federal executive body authorized for control and supervision in the field of taxes and fees, and other bodies of state supervision and control, as well as from credit and other financial institutions;
  • send its representatives to participate in events held by the NCO; and
  • carry out inspections to verify compliance of the activities of the NCO, including the expenditure of funds and the use of other property, with the goals provided for by its charter. Such inspections may also be carried out in respect of a structural subdivision of a foreign NCO.

The MoJ also has the authority to unilaterally place an NCO on the FA registry if it determines that the organization meets the criteria, subject to appeal in court. Additionally, if the state body authorized to conduct audits (e.g., the MoJ) receives information suggesting that an NCO is engaging in activity that would qualify it as an FA, but it is not registered as such, it may conduct an unscheduled audit of that NCO.

In the event of a violation of the RF legislation or the commission by an NCO of actions contrary to the goals provided for by its charter, the MoJ may issue a written warning to it indicating the violation committed and the deadline for its elimination, which is not less than one month. A warning issued to an NCO may be appealed to a higher body or to a court.

The NCO Law also provides the registration authority with additional supervisory powers over the branches, representative offices, and affiliates of foreign NCOs:

  • In the event that a branch or representative office of a foreign NCO fails to submit the information required by law within the established time limit, the relevant structural subdivision of the foreign NCO may be excluded from the register of branches and representative offices of international organizations and foreign NCO by decision of the authorized body.
  • In the event that the activities of a branch or representative office of a foreign NCO do not correspond to the purposes stated in the notification and (or) the information required by law, such structural subdivision may be excluded from the register of branches and representative offices of international organizations and foreign NCO by decision of the authorized body.
  • The MoJ shall send to the structural subdivision of the foreign NCO a reasoned written decision prohibiting the implementation in the territory of the Russian Federation of the program (part thereof) declared for implementation or being implemented in the territory of the RF. A structural subdivision of a foreign NCO that has received such a decision shall not be entitled to proceed with the implementation of the program (or part thereof) and shall be obliged to cease activities related to its implementation. Failure to comply with this decision shall result in the liquidation of the branch of the foreign NCO by a court decision at the request of the MoJ.

According to Federal Law No. 117 of May 2, 2015, the MoJ may draw up reports on administrative offenses of NCOs, including the structural units of international organizations and foreign NCOs, PAs, political parties, and religious organizations. This Law expanded the MoJ’s authority to penalize managers of representative offices and branches of foreign NCOs for violating provisions of the NCO.

Repeated failure by an NCO to submit the information required by law within the established period shall be grounds for the MoJ to apply to the court with an application for the liquidation of the NCO.

Obligations and Restrictions for Foreign Agents

A person receiving support from a foreign source and/or being under foreign influence in other forms and carrying out qualifying activities may be designated as an FA.

Foreign influence is understood as the provision by a foreign source of support and/or influence over a person, including in the forms of support, persuasion, or other forms of influence. Qualified support may be provided through funding, provision of non-monetary assets, or the provision of technical, informational, or other support.

Qualifying activities may include broadly defined political activities, targeted collection of information in the area of military activities, dissemination of information to an unlimited audience and/or participation in creating such information, among other activities established by law.

Amendments to the Law on Foreign Influence, signed on April 21, 2025, further broadened the grounds for designation as an FA. The new provisions cover:

  • assisting in the implementation of decisions of international organizations in which Russia does not participate, if such decisions are deemed to threaten Russian security;
  • involving citizens, including minors, in political activity; collecting targeted information in the military or military-technical field; creating or disseminating mass communication materials, messages, as well as other types of activities defined by the Law on Foreign Influence; and
  • financing political or other activities defined by the Law on Foreign Influence.

A Russian or foreign legal entity, regardless of its organizational and legal form, a public association operating without the formation of a legal entity, another association of persons, a foreign structure without the formation of a legal entity, as well as a foreign citizen or a stateless person may be designated as an FA.

Amendments to the Law on Foreign Influence signed on April 21, 2025, further broadened the grounds for designation as a “foreign agent.” The new provisions cover:

  • assisting in the implementation of decisions of international organizations in which Russia does not participate, if such decisions are deemed to threaten Russian security;
  • involving citizens, including minors, in political activity; collecting targeted information in the military or military-technical field; creating or disseminating mass communication materials or messages; as well as other types of activities defined in Article 4 of the Law on Foreign Influence; and
  • financing political or other activities defined in Article 4 of the Law.

The amendments appear to target Russian exiles supporting cases against the RF in the European Court of Human Rights and those investigating and reporting on the country’s attempts to bypass sanctions.

A person acquires the status of a FA from the day following the day of posting on the official website of the MoJ of the information about such person in the FA register and loses such status upon removal of that information from the register.

Public authorities, organizations of all forms of ownership, as well as their officials, individuals, regardless of their citizenship or in the absence thereof, are obliged to take into account the restrictions related to the status of a FA when carrying out their activities. The actions (inaction) of the said persons shall not contribute to an FA’s violation of Russian legislation on FAs.

In addition to special reporting requirements for NCOs-FAs (see section on Reporting Requirements above), NCOs and other persons designated as FAs face other heightened compliance burdens, including:

  • A person designated as a FA is required to register a Russian legal entity within one month and notify the MoJ about it. In case an FA had registered legal entities prior to being designated as FA, it (he/she) must inform the MoJ about all such legal entities.
  • FAs are required to notify state authorities, educational organizations and other organizations and persons about their status as a “FA.”
  • An FA is obliged to inform its founders (participants), beneficiaries, employees (employees) about the existence of this status. A FA is obliged to inform about the existence of this status to persons who are required, by law or contract, to make payments to the FA, including payments arising from the alienation of real estate and (or) vehicles, leases, remuneration and other payments (including penalties (fines, penalties) and other financial sanctions), as well as income derived from intellectual property rights, bank deposits (account balances), and equity participation (including dividends).
  • Materials produced and/or distributed by a FA, including through the media and/or using the Internet, materials sent by a FA to public authorities, educational organizations, other bodies and organizations in connection with its activities, and information relating to its activities, must be accompanied by an indication that these materials (information) were produced, distributed, and/or sent by a FA or relate to the activities of such agent.
  • Materials produced and (or) distributed by the founder, member, participant, head of a public association operating without the formation of a legal entity, other association of persons, the head of a legal entity included in the register, or a person who is a member of the body of such a person, in the course of their activities, materials sent by these persons to public authorities, educational organizations, other bodies and organizations in connection with the implementation of their activities, and information relating to their activities, disseminated, inter alia, through the mass media and (or) using the Internet, must be accompanied by an indication that these materials (information) were produced, distributed, and/or sent by such persons.
  • In order for a FA to receive funds due to it from an individual or legal entity (hereinafter referred to as the “payer”), including income from the alienation of real estate and (or) vehicles, leases, remuneration and other payments (including penalties, fines, and other financial sanctions), as well as income derived from intellectual property rights, bank deposits, and equity participation (including dividends), the FA shall be obliged to use a special ruble account (hereinafter referred to as the “special account”) opened with an authorized bank.
  • If the special account has not been opened earlier, the special account must be opened by the FA with the authorized bank within fifteen business days from the date of conclusion of the agreement on the alienation of real estate and (or) vehicles, on their lease, on the alienation of the exclusive right or license (sublicense) agreement or the emergence of other grounds for receiving payments in connection with the alienation or use of the exclusive right to the result of intellectual activity or means of individualization, as well as the emergence of the right to receive income in the form of interest on deposits (account balances) in banks, income from equity participation in organizations (including in the form of dividends). If, on the date of inclusion in the register, the FA is a party to an agreement on the alienation of real estate and (or) vehicles, on their lease, on the alienation of an exclusive right or a license (sublicense) agreement, or has other grounds for receiving such payments, and also has the right to receive income in the form of interest on deposits (account balances) in banks, income from equity participation in organizations (including in the form of dividends), a special account must be opened by the FA within fifteen business days from the date of its inclusion in the register.
  • If, on the date of payment, the payer does not have information about the details of the special account, the special account is opened in the name of the foreign agent on the basis of the payer’s application. If, on the date of receipt of the said application, a special account has been opened with the authorized bank, the authorized bank shall inform the payer who sent the application of the details of the special account. In the absence of a special account on the date of receipt of the said application, the authorized bank shall open a special account without the personal presence of the FA or its representative. In this case, the authorized bank shall identify the new client – FA , its representative, beneficiary, beneficial owner on the basis of the documents (information) available in the circumstances about these persons no later than forty-five calendar days after the date of opening a special account in the name of the FA.
  • If an FA applies to an authorized bank for the purpose of opening a special account, the authorized bank shall identify the new client — a foreign agent, its representative, beneficiary, and beneficial owner — in accordance with the requirements of the law.
  • Within three working days from the date of opening of the special account, the authorized bank shall notify the authorized body of the details of the special account. The authorized body shall include information on the details of the special account in the register, as well as post them on its official website in the information and telecommunication network “Internet” within three working days from the date of receipt of the notification of the authorized bank. Notification of the authorized body of the details of the special account, inclusion of the said information in the register, as well as their posting by the authorized body on its official website in the information and telecommunication network “Internet” in accordance with this part shall not be considered a violation of bank secrecy.
  • Only one special account can be opened in the name of an FA.
  • Funds shall be debited from the special account for the obligations of a FA in the event that these funds are recovered to the budgets of the budget system of the Russian Federation and in other cases established by the Government of the RF.
  • In the event that an FA is excluded from the register, the special account shall be closed by an authorized bank on the basis of an application from a person previously recognized as a FA within fifteen business days from the date of receipt of the said application. In this case, the balance of funds from the special account, at the request of the person previously recognized as an FA, shall be issued to such person or transferred to another bank account of that person.

Restrictions on the activities of FAs include the following:

  • Individual FAs who are foreigners or stateless persons are prohibited from being founders (participants, members) of NCOs;
  • Individual FAs may not hold positions in public authorities, including elective positions, positions in the state civil service and municipal service; serve as members of election commissions or referendum commissions; act as representatives of the public in qualification boards of judges; or be members of the management bodies of state corporations. Inclusion of an official or citizen in the register may serve as grounds for refusal of access to state secrets. An FA does not have the right to participate in the activities of commissions, committees, advisory, consultative, expert, and other bodies established under public authorities.
  • Public associations designated as FAs may not be permitted to nominate candidates to the public monitoring commission. FAs are not allowed to conduct independent anti-corruption examinations of regulatory legal acts or draft regulatory legal acts.
  • Electoral and referendum activities: An FA may not carry out activities that promote or impede the nomination of candidates or lists of candidates, the election of registered candidates, the initiation of a referendum, the conduct of a referendum, or the achievement of a particular result in an election or referendum, nor may such persons participate in other forms in election campaigns or referendum campaigns. FAs are prohibited from making donations to the election funds of candidates, registered candidates, electoral associations, or referendum funds.
  • Public events: For the purpose of organizing and holding a public event, the transfer and/or receipt of funds or other property from FAs is prohibited. An FA is not entitled to act as an organizer of a public event.
  • Political parties: Donations to a political party and its regional branches from FAs are not permitted. Political parties, their regional branches, or other structural subdivisions are also prohibited from concluding transactions with FAs.
  • Educational activities: An FA may not carry out teaching activities in state or municipal educational organizations or engage in educational activities. Educational activities may not be carried out by organizations recognized as FAs.
  • Information products: An FA is not entitled to produce information products for minors.
  • Public procurement: An FA is not entitled to participate in the procurement of goods, works, or services to meet state and municipal needs, nor to participate in the selection of service providers.
  • State support: An FA is not entitled to receive state or municipal financial or other material support, including in the course of creative activities.
  • Insurance: Funds placed by foreign agents (except for individuals) or in their favor are not subject to insurance.
  • Taxation: FAs may not apply the simplified taxation system.
  • Accounting: An FA is not entitled to use simplified methods of accounting, including simplified accounting (financial) statements.
  • Foreign investment restrictions: FAs are subject to the restrictions and prohibitions provided for by Federal Law No. 57-FZ of April 29, 2008 “On the Procedure for Making Foreign Investments in Business Entities of Strategic Importance for Ensuring the Defense of the Country and the Security of the State.”
  • Critical information infrastructure: An FA is not entitled to operate significant critical information infrastructure facilities or carry out activities to ensure the security of such facilities.
  • Environmental review: An FA does not have the right to participate as an expert in the conduct of a state environmental review or to participate in the organization and conduct of a public environmental review.
  • Public environmental control: An FA may not exercise public control in the field of environmental protection (public environmental control).
  • Juvenile protection activities: An FA is not entitled to participate in activities aimed at preventing neglect and juvenile delinquency.
  • Advertising: FAs are not permitted to advertise their informational resources in any form.
  • Special bank account requirement: An FA has the right to receive funds from the alienation of real estate and/or vehicles, from their lease, remuneration and other payments (including penalties, fines, and other financial sanctions) related to the alienation or use of exclusive rights to the results of intellectual activity or means of individualization, as well as income in the form of interest on bank deposits (account balances) and income from equity participation in organizations (including dividends), only by crediting such funds to a special account specified by law. Crediting funds to the said special account is recognized as proper fulfillment of the obligations of the person making the payment.
  • SONCO register: A non-commercial organization designated as an FA may not be included in the register of socially oriented non-commercial organizations (SONCOs).

Obligations and Restrictions for Undesirable Organizations

The activities of a foreign or international NCO, including foreign or international organizations whose founders are foreign state bodies (except international intergovernmental organizations of which Russia is a member), that pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system of the RF, the country’s defense capability or the security of the state, or providing intermediary financial services to an “undesirable organization may be recognized as undesirable on the territory of the RF. The activities of a foreign or international NCO shall be recognized as undesirable in the territory of the RF from the date of publication of information about it in accordance with the procedure established by this article. The decision to designate a foreign NCO as “undesirable” or to cancel such designation shall be taken by the Prosecutor General of the RF in coordination with the federal executive body responsible for the development and implementation of state policy and legal regulation in the sphere of international relations of the RF. Publication of information on the recognition of undesirable activities of foreign or international NCOs in the RF shall be carried out by posting a list of “undesirable” organizations on the Internet on the official website of the MoJ, and publishing in the all-Russian periodical determined by the Russian Government.

Recognition of the activities of a foreign or international NCO as undesirable in the territory of the RF entails:

  • a ban on the establishment (opening) in the territory of the RF of structural subdivisions of a foreign or international non-governmental organization and the termination of the activities of such structural subdivisions previously established (opened) in the territory of the RF in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the RF;
  • banks and other financial institutions shall refuse to carry out transactions with monetary funds and/or other property, one of the parties to which is an “undesirable” organization.
  • a ban on the distribution of information materials published by an “undesirable” organization and (or) distributed by it, including through the media and (or) using the information and telecommunication network “Internet,” as well as the production or storage of such materials for the purpose of distribution;
  • a ban on the implementation of programs (projects) in the RF for “undesirable” organizations.

Participation in activities of an “undesirable” organization is prohibited both in and outside of Russia. For example:

  • persons are prohibited from creating or participating in legal entities within Russia on behalf of an “undesirable” organization.
  • social media platforms with more than 500,000 daily users are required to monitor and remove illegal content, including information and links to materials of “undesirable” organizations.
  • a ban on the distribution of advertising on the information resources of foreign and international non-governmental organizations whose activities are recognized as undesirable.

The law established criminal and administrative penalties relating to activities of “undesirable” organizations:

  • Administrative penalties: Administrative penalties apply both when an “undesirable organization” implements activities (Article 20.33) or for participation in such activities in or outside of Russia. Fines for citizens are RUB 5,000-15,000 (USD 60-180 as of September 2025); fines for officials range from RUB 20,000-50,000 (USD 240-600); and those for legal entities are RUB 50,000-100,000 (USD 600-1,200).
  • Escalation to criminal liability: Those who participate in any form in the activities of an “undesirable” organization; provide or collect funds or provide financial services to such an organization; or organize activities of an “undesirable” organization in or outside of Russia, after two administrative offenses within a year, can face criminal penalties, including fines of RUB 300,000-500,000 (USD 3,600-6,000) or two to three times the annual income of the offender; compulsory work for up to 360 hours; forced labor for up to five years with or without restriction of liberty for up to two years; or imprisonment for two to six years with or without deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to ten years.
  • Exemption: Individuals who voluntarily cease participation in the activity of the “undesirable” organization before prosecution may be exempt from criminal liability.

Barriers to International Contact

Foreign citizens and stateless persons legally staying in the RF may be founders (participants, members) of NCOs. See the section on Barriers to Formation for certain restrictions.

Individuals and legal entities may participate in the activities of foreign NCOs in the territory of the Russian Federation from the date of registration of a structural subdivision – a branch of such organization. The law establishes administrative and criminal penalties for organizing or participating in activities of unregistered foreign NCOs:

The management bodies, boards of trustees or supervisory boards, other bodies of foreign NCOs and their structural subdivisions operating in the territory of the RF may not include persons holding state or municipal positions, as well as positions in the state or municipal service, unless otherwise provided for by an international treaty or the legislation of the RF. These persons shall not be entitled to engage in paid activities financed exclusively at the expense of foreign states, international and foreign organizations, foreign citizens and stateless persons unless otherwise provided for by an international treaty or legislation of the RF.

Amendments to the Criminal Code define “state treason” broadly, exposing NCOs interacting with foreign organizations to potential criminal liability. State treason includes not only espionage and sharing state secrets but also providing “financial, material, technical, consultative, or other assistance” deemed damaging to Russia’s security.

Participation in activities of foreign organizations designated as “undesirable” is prohibited (see the section on Obligations and Restrictions for Undesirable Organizations).

Restrictions on Anti-Corruption Expert Reviews

International and foreign organizations, as well as FAs, are prohibited from conducting independent anti-corruption expert reviews of draft laws and regulations (Federal Law No. 362-FZ of October 11, 2018, on amending Article 5 of the Federal Law on Anti-Corruption Expertise of Normative Legal Acts and Drafts of Normative Legal Acts).

Restrictions in the Field of Education

On top of this, Russian authorities adopted restrictions on international contact in the field of education. Federal Law No. 85-FZ of April 5, 2021, on Amendments to the Federal Law on Education, introduced restrictions on cooperation between educational institutions and foreign partners. It also introduced prior government approval requirements for the newly created category of “educational outreach activities,” which is broadly defined to include all seminars, roundtables, trainings, and similar events, and could therefore apply to training organized by NCOs.

BARRIERS TO RESOURCES

Foreign Funding

Since 2012, foreign funding has gradually become largely inaccessible to most Russian NCOs. Many organizations have decided not to seek foreign funding for fear of being designated as FAs and listed in the FA Registry. Being labeled as an FA poses very heavy administrative burdens on NCOs, restrictions on their activities and damages their reputation, as the phrase “foreign agent” is generally perceived to mean “foreign spy.”

Economic Activities

NCOs, including charities may engage in economic activities as long as these activities advance their statutory purposes, but may not pursue the generation of profit as their primary purpose (Article 50(3), Civil Code; Articles 2 and 24(2), NCO Law; Article 37, Law on PAs; and Article 12, Charities Law). Profits from economic activities are generally taxed like those of commercial entities, with some regional and local tax benefits for qualifying NCOs.

State Funding

The 2019 Regulation on Grants of the President of the RF in Support of Civil Society establishes a legal basis for the Presidential Grants Fund for the Development of Civil Society. The Fund provides grants to NCOs, which carry out activities in areas listed in the Regulation and include protection of human rights, development of civil society institutions, protection of animals, among other fields, on a competitive basis. However, NCOs that the government sees as opposing its policies do not receive grants.

The Fund conducts competitions with the support of the Coordination Committee on Conduct of Competitions for Grants for Development of Civil Society. Grant competitions are held no less than twice a year. Grants can be provided to co-finance projects of SONCOs funded through state subsidies.

State support is also provided to NCOs (primarily SONCOs) by federal and municipal authorities. State support may be provided in the form of:

  • subsidies;
  • financial, property, informational, and consulting support, as well as support in the field of training, additional professional education of employees and volunteers of SONCOs;
  • provision of SONCOs with benefits for the payment of taxes and fees in accordance with the legislation on taxes and fees;
  • procurement of goods, works, services to meet state and municipal needs from SONCOs in the manner established by the legislation of the RF on the contract system in the field of procurement of goods, works, services to meet state and municipal needs;
  • provision of tax and fee benefits to legal entities that provide SONCOs with tax and fee benefits in accordance with the legislation on taxes and fees.

Financial support from state and municipal budgets may be provided in the form of subsidies. While all SONCOs may receive subsidies, PPBS may receive state subsidies for the term of no less than two years.

Federal and municipal authorities also establish lists of state and municipal property for the purpose of granting it for a long-term use (including rent-free or at below-market rent) by SONCOs.

Federal and municipal authorities also provide informational support to SONCOs by establishing informational and IT systems supporting them. They may also provide them with the opportunity to use free TV, radio time, printed and online mass media owned by the state for disseminating/posting information by SONCOs.

The government established special resource centers to support SONCOs.

Both individuals and companies may benefit from tax exemptions when they provide support to some types of NCOs.

NCOs also benefit from some tax benefits provided to them and an individual may benefit from a social tax deduction (reduction of the taxable income on the amount of donation) when making a donation to a qualified NCO. The actual value of the donation may be deducted from the taxable income up to 25% of the taxable income received in the reporting year (Article 219 of the Tax Code). The deduction may be taken if made to:

  1. SONCOs for the implementation of their qualified activities;
  2. NCOs carrying out activities in the field of science, culture, physical culture and sports (with the exception of professional sports), education, enlightenment, health care, protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, social and legal support and protection of citizens, assistance in the protection of citizens from emergency situations, environmental protection and animal protection;
  3. religious organizations for the implementation of their statutory activities;
  4. NCOs for the formation or replenishment of endowments.

Companies may reduce their profit by the amount of donations up to 1% of the revenue when they donate to SONCOs in the registry maintained by the Ministry of Economic Development. Companies may only take advantage of this benefit if they use the general tax regime (not the simplified regime).

NCOs’ operations are exempt from VAT when they, for example, carry out services listed in the Tax Code, including services in the area of education, select medical services, social services to groups of people, as defined in the Tax Code, services in the area of culture and arts, among others. In addition, VAT is exempt for goods and services provided by public organizations of persons with disabilities, when they meet requirements established in the Tax Code.

The following NCOs are exempt from property tax:

  • Religious organizations if the property is used for statutory purposes; and
  • NCOs of persons with disabilities under the same terms as exemption from VAT.

Subjects of the RF and the regions may establish additional incentives for companies when they support NCOs.

On the status of charitable organizations, SONCOs, and PPBS, see the section on Public Benefit Status.

BARRIERS TO EXPRESSION

Neither the Civil Code nor the NCO Law explicitly limits NCOs’ advocacy, lobbying, or participation in election campaigns, provided they comply with federal election laws (Article 27, Law on PAs).

Charities, however, are prohibited from using their assets to support political parties, movements, or campaigns (Article 2(2), Charities Law). In addition, religious organizations, governmental and municipal institutions, international PAs, and international movements are prohibited from making donations to candidates (Article 58 (6), Federal Law No. 19-FZ on RF Presidential elections of January 10, 2003; and Article 66 (7), Federal Law No. 175-FZ on RF State Duma deputies’ elections of July 20, 2002, as amended). However, these prohibitions do not appear to extend to involvement in lobbying or other politically related activities.

Important barriers to expression have been the designation of FA status, as well as charges related to extremism and “fake news”/libel under administrative and criminal law.

Any person, physical or legal, may be designated as an FA if this person is engaged in loosely defined political activities or dissemination of information to an unlimited audience and/or participation in creating such information, among other activities established by law. In order to be designated as an FA, there is no need to receive financial support or to receive support from a foreign entity. In practice, organizations and individuals who have spoken negatively, for example, against the “special military operation” were designated as FAs.

Both the Criminal Code and the Code on Administrative Offenses (CoAO) loosely define crimes and offenses relating to extremism and terrorism broadly, which allows for penalizing both individuals and organizations, including NCOs for any opposition to government policies, with a focus on anti-war rhetoric relating to Ukraine, LGBTQI issues, women’s rights, among others. The relevant articles in the CoAO include:

  • violation by the owner of an audiovisual service of the established procedure for dissemination of information among children that causes harm to their health and/or development (Article 13.36 of the CoAO used against LGBTQI-related content);
  • dissemination by the owner of audio-visual service of information containing public calls to carry out terrorist activity, materials which publicly justify terrorism, and other materials calling for extremist activity or justifying the need to carry out such activities (Article 13.37 of the CoAO); and
  • propaganda or public demonstration of Nazi paraphernalia or symbols, or attributes or symbols of extremist organizations, or other attributes or symbols, the propaganda or public demonstration of which is prohibited by federal laws (Article 20.3 of the CoAO).

The Criminal Code provides for criminal penalties for public calls to carry out extremist activities, punishable by up to four years’ imprisonment (Article 280 of the Criminal Code), for slander, as well as the dissemination of knowingly false information, discrediting the honor and dignity of another person or undermining their reputation, as well as slander contained in a public speech, a publicly demonstrated work, the mass media, or committed publicly using information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet, or in relation to several persons, including those who are not individually identified (Article 128.1 of the Criminal Code).

Additional restrictions further curtailing freedom of expression include:

  • The “Klishas Package,” adopted in 2019, introduced administrative penalties for disseminating in the media or online deliberately false, socially significant information presented as reliable, where such information creates risk to life or health, property, public order, public safety, or the functioning of infrastructure such as transport, communications, credit institutions, or energy facilities. The package also penalizes content that shows “obvious disrespect” toward society, the Constitution, state symbols, or authorities. Upon notice from the Prosecutor General, Roskomnadzor may order removal of such content and block access to sites that fail to comply.
  • Federal Law No. 530-FZ of December 30, 2020, known as the Law on Censorship in Social Media, requires large social networks (defined as those with more than 500,000 daily users), to proactively monitor and remove content expressing “disrespect” for the state, calling for protests, spreading “fake news,” or linking to “undesirable” organizations.
  • Federal Law No. 538-FZ of December 20, 2020, on Amendments to Article 128-1 of the Criminal Code, broadened the definition of libel to include public statements made online and increased penalties, including imprisonment for up to five years.

See more under sections on Obligations and Restrictions for Foreign Agents and Obligations and Restrictions for Undesirable Organizations.

BARRIERS TO ASSEMBLY

Article 31 of the Russian Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly: “Citizens of the Russian Federation shall have the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold rallies, meetings and demonstrations, marches and pickets.”

The primary law governing public events is Federal Law No. 54-FZ of June 19, 2004, on Meetings, Rallies, Demonstrations, Marches and Pickets, known as the Law on Meetings.

Since 2020, amendments to the Law on Meetings have significantly tightened restrictions:

Limitations on Eligible Organizers

Only Russian citizens may organize public events. The following are prohibited from organizing public events:

  • Individuals deemed legally incapable,
  • Those serving criminal sentences,
  • Individuals convicted of crimes against the constitutional system, national security, or public security and safety, or with repeated administrative penalties,
  • Political parties, other public or religious associations, their regional branches or other subdivisions; and
  • FAs.

Advance Notification

The organizers of a public event must file a written notification with the government that contains:

  • The organizers’ full names, addresses, and phone numbers;
  • Those persons authorized to perform regulatory functions while holding the event;
  • The goal and form, date, start and finish times, and route (including information about vehicles);
  • The projected number of participants;
  • The methods planned to ensure public order;
  • The need for medical assistance; and
  • Confirmation of whether loudspeakers will be used.

The notification must be submitted to an executive body of the Russian territorial subdivision or a local self-governance body 10-15 days before the event. The only exceptions are that notifications for group pickets may be submitted up to 3 days in advance, while notifications are not needed at all for individual pickets.

The authorized body is obligated to confirm the date, time, and receipt of the notification, but is otherwise not obligated to reply. The authorities may propose a change in time or place within three days of receiving the notification. Organizers must inform the body whether they accept the changes at least three days before the event date. However, refusal to accept the proposed changes is treated as rendering the event unlawful in practice, thus limiting the effectiveness of appeal.

According to Federal Law No. 367-FZ of October 11, 2018, organizers are required to inform citizens and provide a written notification to the authorities at least one day in advance if an event is canceled. This requirement is difficult to fulfill when last-minute disruptions occur. Article 20.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses provides for administrative liability for organizers of public events that do not fulfill this obligation, as well as those that file a notification that does not indicate the event’s purpose.

Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions

Public events are banned in locations that pose threats to buildings or structures or other threats to the safety of the participants. In addition, events are banned:

  • Near hazardous production facilities;
  • On elevated roads, long-distance railway lines, and oil, gas, and product pipelines;
  • Near presidential residences, courts, and correctional institutions; and
  • In border zones, unless a special permit is obtained.

When multiple groups request use of the same location for public events, priority goes to the event that submitted notification first. This effectively prevents counter-demonstrations from being held simultaneously.

Responsibilities of Organizers and Participants

Organizers and participants are responsible for actions that lead to the “creation of impediments to pedestrian traffic,” the “involvement of additional police personnel and equipment,” or that “exceed the norms of occupancy of a territory.” If organizers fail to satisfy legal obligations, they also bear civil liability for harm caused by participants.

Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses imposes administrative liability for involving minors in unauthorized public events.

Enforcement

Authorities have used excessive force to disband peaceful demonstrations. The National Guard was created in 2016 with the authority to suppress any mass action pursuant to Federal Law No. 227-FZ of July 3, 2016.

Additional Resources

This section contains links to external reports and news reports relevant to civic freedoms. Click a subheading for more, or click here to expand all subheadings.

GLOBAL INDEX RANKINGS
Ranking BodyRankRanking Scale
(best – worst possible)
UN Human Development Index64 (2023)1 – 193
World Justice Project Rule of Law Index113 (2024)1 – 140
Fund for Peace Fragile States Index48 (2024)179 – 1
Transparency International157 (2025)1 – 182
Freedom House: Freedom in the WorldStatus: Not Free
Political Rights: 4
Civil Liberties: 8 (2025)		Free/Partly Free/Not Free
40 – 0
60 – 0
REPORTS
UN Universal Periodic Review ReportsRussia UPR page
UN Human Rights Reports• Russia OHCHR page
• Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor: Final warning: death threats and killings of human rights defenders (2021)
Council on Foundations Country NotesRussia country note
U.S. State DepartmentCountry Report on Human Rights Practices 2024: Russia
Human Rights WatchForeign Agent Laws in the Authoritarian Playbook (2024)
IMF Country Reports• Russian Federation: 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report (2021)
• Russian Federation: Selected Issues Paper (2019)
Journal of National Security Law & PolicyFARA in Focus: What can Russia’s Foreign Agent Law tell us about America’s? (2021)
German Marshall FundDemocratic Russian Civil Society Outside Russia? A Window of Opportunity for Support (2024)
CEERS Working PapersManaging Society: “Sovereign democracy” and Civil Society in Putin’s Russia (2021)
International Center for Not-for-Profit Law Online LibraryRussia
NEWS

“Extremist” label and ban of Nobel Prize winner Memorial criminalizes human rights work (April 2026)
Reacting to the news that the Russian authorities have arbitrarily designated prominent human rights group Memorial as “extremist” and banned its activities in the country, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Regional Director, said: “For close to 40 years, Memorial’s tireless commitment to documenting past and ongoing repression in Russia has ensured that violations against millions of people are not forgotten. These include the victims of Stalin’s GULAG, unlawful acts and human rights abuses in conflicts in Chechnya, Georgia and Ukraine, and the arbitrary detention of hundreds of the Kremlin’s critics and political opponents today. A frontline human rights organization, Memorial has bravely defended human rights in the face of horrific reprisals, including the persecution, detention and killing of its staff.”

Russia outlaws international NGO Amnesty International as “undesirable” in latest crackdown on dissent (May 2025)
On May 19, 2025, Russia declared Amnesty International an “undesirable organization,” effectively banning the human rights NGO from operating in the country. The group condemned the move, vowing to redouble its work documenting and exposing human rights violations in Russia. Founded in 1961 and based in London, Amnesty International advocates for human rights worldwide and is known for its campaigns in defense of those it recognizes as prisoners of conscience. It has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for its work.

Russia-linked phishing campaigns ensnare Russian and Belarusian civil society (August 2024)
Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline and the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto (“the Citizen Lab”), in collaboration with First Department, Arjuna Team, and RESIDENT.ngo, have uncovered at least two separate spear-phishing campaigns targeting Russian and Belarusian nonprofit organizations, Russian independent media, international NGOs active in Eastern Europe, and at least one former U.S. ambassador. The Citizen Lab attributes one of the two campaigns to a known Russian threat group called COLDRIVER, with the other likely to be the work of a different, previously unnamed actor. Spear phishing describes a highly personalized way of attacking victims, using carefully tailored information that aligns with a target’s personal and professional experiences and activities.

The UN wants to tackle Russia’s human rights crisis. Will it? (December 2022)
In October, the United Nations appointed a special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in Russia. This followed a year of advocacy work by Russian human rights organizations. Russians regularly face violations of their constitutional rights, and the war on Ukraine has only exacerbated the situation.

ARCHIVED NEWS

First criminal case opened against a foreign agent because of COVID-19 fake news (April 2020) (Russian)

Russian Lawmakers Expand Scope of ‘Undesirable’ Groups (October 2018)

Russia bans two foreign election-monitoring groups (March 2018)

Russia warns of additional penalties for US media (January 2018)

Duma passes first reading of bill designating individuals as foreign agent media (January 2018)

Russia gives early approval to new bill on foreign media (January 2018)

Independent Think Tank Faces Charges (September 2017)

Russia to Strike Eight Organizations Off ‘Foreign Agents’ Register (May 2017)

Russian government says foreign agent nonprofits are getting millions (May 2017)

Russian Lawmakers Target Anticorruption Group Transparency International (May 2017)

Violations and state restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of publication, freedom of artistic creativity (May 2017)

Khodorkovsky’s Open Russia NGO put on “undesirable organizations” list (April 2017)

Russia Bans Jehovah’s Witnesses, Calling It an Extremist Group (April 2017)

Russia protests: Kremlin condemns ‘provocation’ (March 2017)

Russia Bans More International Organizations (August 2016)

Russia moves toward alarming new counter-terrorism law (June 2016)

Russia’s Bad Example (March 2016)

Targeting of NGOs Ensnares Journalist Associations (October 2015)

A Cloud over Russian Civil Society (March 2015)

“Memorial” and other groups forced to register under “foreign agents” Law (November 2014)

“Memorial” and four other groups forced to register under “foreign agents” Law (July 2014)

Russia Quietly Tightens Reins on Internet With a ‘Bloggers Law‘ (May 2014)

Law on ‘foreign NGOs an agents’ does not contradict Russian Constitution (April 2014)

First Ruling on Civil Suit Under ‘Foreign Agents’ Law (December 2013)

Russian General Prosecutor, Yury Chaika, Speaks on NGO inspections in St. Petersburg (July 2013)

Russian court fines NGO $13,000 under ‘foreign agent’ law (May 2013)

Kremlin Promises Information on $1B in NGO Funding (April 2013)

Leading Russian Human Rights NGOs launch challenge at European Court to ‘Foreign Agent’ Law (February 2013)

Freedom House Condemns New Restrictions on Freedom of Assembly in Moscow (January 2013)

Russia criticizes EU on human rights ahead of summit (December 2012)

Medvedev convinced civil society developing in Russia (December 2012)

USAID exit hurts Russian election watchdog (December 2012)

Internet restriction law comes into force (November 2012)

Russia’s ‘Foreign Agents’ law hit by paperwork pile-up (November 2012)

New EU Rights envoy promises to raise issues with Russia, Kazakhstan (November 2012)

Russia warns U.S. over human rights bill (November 2012)

Russia: leading NGO set to close due to funds shortfall (November 2012)

Merkel Questions Russia’s Human Rights Record (November 2012)

Transparency International refuses to comply with NCO law (November 2012)

Putin suggests some flexibility on anti-dissent laws (November 2012)

Another law in blatant violation of basic international human rights standards (October 2012)

Russia’s upper house approves law on fines for foreign agents (October 2012)

Russia’s NGO Law will inevitably result in a contraction of space and opportunity for NGOs (October 2012)

Rights group says its researcher in Moscow is threatened (October 2012)

Russia’s troublesome “traditional values” resolution (October 2012)

USAID shutdown in Russia will hurt civil society (September 2012)

Kremlin evicts USAID from Russia in blow to ‘reset’ (September 2012)

Russia demands USAID halt work (September 2012)

European Parliament concerned over worsening civil society climate in Russia (September 2012)

Russian regional administration forbids employees contact with ‘foreign agents’ as new NGO law gains traction (September 2012)

Human-rights organizations to boycott new law on NGOs (September 2012)

Russian rights groups taking ‘multi-step’ approach against NGO law (September 2012)

Beyond text, few parallels between new Russian and existing U.S. CSO laws (August 2012)

Clinton affirms Russian human rights activists are not U.S. agents (August 2012)

“A kind of Soviet flavor”: Putin taking lessons from Lukashenko? (August 2012)

Assembling to promote a positive attitude proscribed (August 2012)

Two years in prison for Pussy Riot (August 2012)

Russia needs Human Rights Ombudsmen in every region – Putin (August 2012)

Russia’s law on volunteering can be adopted in autumn (August 2012)

NGO law affects Russia’s civil society (August 2012)

Blogger and leader of protest movement Aleksei Navalny charged with embezzlement after labeling an official a “foreign agent” (August 2012)

New amendments on volunteering to be developed (July 2012)

Details of “Foreign Agents” Law (July 2012)

“Foreign Agents” Law modeled after US law, says Putin (July 2012)

Russians Support Recent Laws Restricting Freedoms – Poll (July 2012)

Russian rights activists refuse to comply with NGO law (July 2012)

Drive to give legal status to volunteers (July 2012)

The Internet law: A good bad example of Russia’s backsliding (July 2012)

Russian parliament approves restrictions on foreign-funded NGOs (July 2012)

Secretary of State Clinton discusses “disturbing” Russian NGO Law in CoD Governing Council remarks (July 2012)

EU High Representative “highly concerned” about amendments to Russia’s NGO law (July 2012)

PACE Rapporteur Slams Russian Slander Bill As ‘Invitation to Punish’ Kremlin Critics (July 2012)

Russia’s Ruling Party Seeks ‘Foreign Agent’ Media Bill (July 2012)

UN human rights experts warn of potential damage by Russia’s draft law to civil society (July 2012)

Parties Ask Russian Constitutional Court To Review Demonstrations Law (July 2012)

Looking for Foreign Agents in All the Wrong Places (July 2012)

NGO laws indicate Putin’s strategic failure, political frailty (July 2012)

Russia’s Internet blacklist looms in freedom crackdown (July 2012)

Transparency International calls on Russia to reject draconian amendments to laws governing NGOs (July 2012)

Putin signs draconian law restricting freedom of assembly (June 2012)

New Russian bill aims to brand NGOs as ‘foreign agents’ (June 2012)

Parliament to label externally-funded NGOs as foreign agents (June 2012)

Law on rallies awaits Putin’s signature (June 2012)

Putin signs law with new restrictions on peaceful assembly (June 2012)

Russian President Putin defends Russia’s human rights record after EU meeting (June 2012)

Russia’s civil society ‘beats authorities’ in tackling corruption (May 2012)

Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor meets civil society advocates from Russia (April 2012)

Freedom of speech concerns arise as protest singers face seven-year jail sentences (April 2012)

Nonviolent protests in Russia: About the elections or also for the future? (March 2012)

International NGOs urge authorities of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia to take measures to protect journalists (January 2012)

Why Russia’s democrats need West’s support (October 2011)

Government to increase support for NGOs – Medvedev (September 2011)

Arkhangelsk NGOs adapting to Russian reality (September 2011)

Russian court makes foreign donations to NGOs tax free (September 2011)

The Rebirth of Russian Civil Society (July 2011)

Medvedev urges development of endowment funds (June 2011)

European Court Rebukes Law on Parties (April 2011)

U.N. says Russian efforts on human rights fall short (February 2011)

The foregoing information was collected by the ICNL Civic Freedom Monitor partner organization in Russia.