Russia bans Human Rights Watch in widening crackdown on critics

Russian authorities have designated Human Rights Watch as an "undesirable organisation", a label that makes involvement with it a criminal offence under a 2015 law. This means the international human rights group must stop all work in Russia and those who cooperate with or support the organisation are open to prosecution. The decision is part of a widening crackdown on Kremlin critics, journalists, and activists, which has intensified since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian prosecutor general's office also designated a Russian feminist punk band as an "extremist" organisation and Russia's Supreme Court designated the Anti-Corruption Foundation set up by Alexey Navalny as a "terrorist" group. These moves follow previous designations of opposition activists and critics, including Human Rights Watch in 2021. The actions are seen as part of a broader effort to suppress dissent and criticism of the Russian government.

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