Russia utilizing ‘rule of fear’ to silence anti-war dissent, says UN unbiased human rights skilled | EUROtoday

Mariana Katzarova mentioned in a brand new report to the UN General Assembly that over the previous three years “thousands have been imprisoned on politically motivated charges, including treason, espionage, extremism and terrorism, often on fabricated evidence and in closed trialswith detainees ranging from children to the elderly.”

The UN Human Rights Council-appointed Special Rapporteur mentioned her report “reveals a sustained pattern in which national security and public safety laws are weaponised to criminalise dissent and suppress civic space.”

Treason prosecutions soar

Since 2022 when Russia started its full-scale invasion, treason prosecutions have soared from double-digits then, to some 760 verdicts issued by mid-2025.

Espionage has developed from a narrowly utilized provision right into a broad instrument, she mentioned, with expanded definitions and diminished requirements of legal proof – notably within the context of the Ukraine battle.

Espionage circumstances went from simply 5 earlier than the full-scale invasion to 159 circumstances involving 182 individuals by mid-2025. They have been usually mixed with alleged terrorism offences to safe harsher sentences, Ms. Katzarova mentioned.

Russian courts ship greater than 5 terrorism-related sentences a day throughout 2025 – a document excessive.

Meanwhile, a nationwide “List of Terrorists and Extremists” has surged from 1,600 names in 2022 to greater than 18,000 in 2025, together with over 150 youngsters and a whole bunch of organisations.

Repression spreads

Earlier this month the Federal Security Service introduced it was opening a terrorism case in opposition to 22 members of the exiled Russian Anti-war Committee.

“This illustrates the determination of Russian authorities to extend repression beyond national borders,” Ms. Katzarova warned.

Those focused embody distinguished opposition politicians, enterprise individuals, journalists, attorneys, artists and lecturers who oppose Russia’s battle in opposition to Ukraine, she mentioned.

On 22 October, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office demanded the Supreme Court declare the late opposition chief Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation a “terrorist organisation”, she famous.

“Extremism” provisions with no foundation in worldwide regulation have been used to prosecute anti-war expression, unbiased reporting, and people linked to Navalny, the skilled’s report stipulates.

The “extremist” label has additionally been prolonged to non secular and ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and LGBT individuals. Hundreds of convictions for alleged “extremism” have been handed down, together with greater than 100 in circumstances focusing on LGBT exercise.

Torture of Ukrainian prisoners

The report paperwork the widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of battle and civilians detained below Russian management.

The majority of Ukrainian detainees dealing with trials are accused of espionage and terrorism, resulting in prolonged jail sentences.

“Ukrainian detainees were starved, denied medical care, and tortured, including through rape and electric shocks,” Ms. Katzarova mentioned, noting that she had collected credible proof of the participation of medical professionals in torture.

“Thousands of Ukrainian civilians deported to Russia remain disappeared, with no information about their fate and whereabouts,” the skilled mentioned.

Ms. Katzarova referred to as for the instant launch of all these detained on politically motivated grounds in Russia, in addition to the instant launch of civilian Ukrainian detainees, together with youngsters.

‘Perpetrators enjoy total impunity’

She demanded accountability for acts of torture and deaths in custody, and for an finish to Russia’s abuse of nationwide safety and public security laws to silence dissent and anti-war expression.

“Justice inside Russia is unattainable; perpetrators enjoy total impunity. Where domestic justice is denied, the international community must actincluding through the framework of universal jurisdiction, to ensure accountability and protect those at risk,” the skilled mentioned.

Special Rapporteurs and different human rights specialists appointed below the particular procedures mandate of the Human Rights Council should not UN employees and are unbiased of any authorities or group. They obtain no wage for his or her work.