Closure of Human Rights Watch and other international NGOs

On April 8, 2022, the Russian authorities, through the Ministry of Justice, revoked the registration of 15 foreign organizations - among them Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and a number of others. Officially, this is framed as a “violation of Russian legislation,” but in essence it is regarded as the suppression of independent human rights structures. The decision followed shortly after the start of the war, as international attention to human rights and possible war crimes grew. International organizations said the decision was an attempt to “throw an iron curtain” over criticism and human rights activities in Russia. This became one of the key signals: the space for civil society, independent media and human rights defenders has seriously narrowed.