Russian Federation: Treatment of protesters, journalists, and human rights defenders

On this page, you can download our commentary on the European Union Agency for Asylum’s Query Response on the treatment of protesters, journalists and human rights defenders by the Russian Federation. The commentary was developed jointly with the Dutch Council for Refugees, and Asylos’ involvement was kindly funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. 

Over 2022, the European Union Agency for Asylum produced two Country of Origin Information (COI) Queries one of which focused on how the Russian authorities treat protesters, journalists, and human rights defenders who criticise the war, and the other which addressed the situation of military deserters. You can also access our commentary on the military deserters Query Response here. 

With no clear end to the invasion of Ukraine in sight, it is likely that Russian citizens who face targeting by the authorities for opposition to the war or military desertion will continue to seek asylum abroad. In light of the likely ongoing need of decision makers and lawyers for accurate and timely COI on the situation, Asylos and the Dutch Council for Refugees hope that our commentaries will provide a useful guide in order to highlight observed gaps and omissions within the Query, as well as to highlight additional relevant COI.

Access the Report

Commentary on the EUAA Query Response on the Russian Federation:
Treatment of protesters, journalists, and human rights defenders

December 2022

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Do you have any comments or feedback on our commentary? We would love to hear it! Send us an email at [email protected].

Report cover images: NMK studio via Shutterstock