• Human rights in Russia have “severely deteriorated” since the country’s invasion of Ukraine
• New UN report highlights crackdown on civil society, police brutality, impression of independent media and silencing of Kremlin critics
• The Kremlin has not issued a public response to the report

Human rights in Russia have “severely deteriorated” says UN 

Human rights in Russia have taken a significant turn for the worse since the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a new UN report. The investigation highlights a “systematic crackdown” on civil society, detailing widespread police brutality, suppression of independent media, and punitive laws aimed at silencing critics of the Kremlin.

Mariana Katzarova, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Russia, conducted the investigation remotely after being denied entry to the country. She gathered information from political groups, activists, and legal experts. The report reveals “credible accounts” of torture, along with disturbing allegations of sexual violence and threats by police.

While human rights violations under President Vladimir Putin have been widely reported, the UN’s findings emphasise how the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine accelerated what was already a “steady decline” in civil freedoms. 

The report also examines Russia’s recent laws targeting “fake news” and foreign-backed individuals or organisations, which have been used to stifle opposition voices both online and in public spaces. These laws have resulted in “mass arbitrary arrests” and harsh prison sentences for dissenters.

The Kremlin has not issued a public response to the report.