Russia Declares Another Human Rights Group, OVD-Info, "Extremist"
20/06/26, 09:00
Russian Supreme Court has declared OVD-Info and 35 other organizations "extremist," further expanding its crackdown on civil society. The move comes just weeks after Memorial, one of Russia's leading human rights organizations, was given the same designation.
Russia has added OVD-Info and 35 other organizations to its official list of "extremist" groups, in the latest move against independent civil society. Under Russian law, supporting or working with these organizations can now lead to criminal prosecution.
OVD-Info is an independent human rights organization that monitors politically motivated arrests, documents human rights violations, and provides legal assistance to people detained in Russia. Rights advocates say the designation is another attempt to silence independent voices and prevent the documentation of abuses.
The designation is part of an ongoing effort to restrict independent civil society in Russia. In April, Russia’s Supreme Court declared Memorial, as an "extremist" organization. The decision widely condemned by internaional human rights groups. Memorial is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights organization and one of the most respected in Russia.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), which described the decision as “judicial harassment,” along with other international organizations, have strongly criticized the latest decision. They argue that Russia is increasingly using "extremism" laws to target peaceful human rights organizations, suppress dissent, and weaken the country's remaining independent civil society.
