Week-ending 21 February 2025
“Russia’s notoriously vague and broad anti-extremism law is used to prosecute those who call for free and fair elections, expose corruption, advocate on behalf of political prisoners, or appear to identify as Navalny supporters. The Kremlin sees the exercise of basic human rights as a threat that must be stopped, something Navalny knew well, and for which he paid the price.”
– Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Background from HRW: On February 16, 2025, Russian law enforcement officers detained at least 42 people at gatherings commemorating Navalny on the first anniversary of his death in prison. Throughout the year, the authorities have used their extensive arsenal of repressive tools to try to suppress public outcry and erase Navalny’s political legacy.
Source: ‘Russia: Year After Navalny’s Death, Supporters Targeted. At Least 17 Imprisoned, Dozens Face Spurious Criminal, Administrative Charges,’ Human Rights Watch, 20 February 2025
“Justice cannot be negotiated away. The perpetrators of war crimes, including widespread, indiscriminate bombing and shelling of civilians and civilian infrastructure, torture and ill-treatment in occupied areas and Russian prisons, and the torture and executions of POWs, must be held accountable. Investigations and prosecutions need to be supported and well-resourced. The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and five other high-ranking officials must be honored and ICC member countries should oppose the Trump administration’s sanctions on the court and forcefully support the court’s crucial role.”
– Rachel Denber, Deputy Director at HRW, Europe and Central Asia Division
Background from Rachel Denber: Russia’s war against Ukraine will soon enter its fourth year. Since February 2022, violations of the laws of war have led to needless civilian death, suffering, and devastation with more than 12,456 Ukrainian civilians killed and 28,382 injured, at least 6.8 million having left the country, and millions more internally displaced. Thousands of homes, hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. As this dreadful anniversary nears, the Trump administration is rapidly moving towards negotiations with the Kremlin.
Source: Rachel Denber: ‘Emphasize Civilian Protection, Justice,’ Human Rights Watch, 21 February 2025
“The Russian state could not break Aleksei Navalny with unjust imprisonment, torture and repeated isolation. Even in death, his legacy of resistance continues to inspire those who believe in a better future. We honour his memory by standing in solidarity with all those who, despite growing repression, continue to pursue truth, justice and freedom.” – Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General
Background from Agnès Callamard: “One year has passed since Aleksei Navalny, a prisoner of conscience and a fearless voice against corruption and Russian state repression, lost his life in a remote Russian prison. This is an occasion to remind Putin that questions about Navalny’s death are not going away, and neither are calls for accountability. The Kremlin is mistaken in its calculation that Aleksei’s memory will fade away and a thorough investigation into his death can be avoided. Our resolve for justice remains as strong as ever. Only an investigation conducted by independent and impartial international experts can ensure that truth is revealed, and the world must insist on nothing less.”
Source: ‘Russia: One year on we demand truth and accountability for Navalny’s death,’ Amnesty International, 16 February 2025
“The full-scale invasion of Ukraine started on 24 February 2022 when Russian forces crossed the border from neighbouring Belarus and made their way towards Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. Since then, our teams have documented violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including numerous reports detailing such violations by Russian forces. This includes the full-scale invasion itself, which violates the United Nations Charter and amounts to the crime of aggression under international law. The attack prompted multiple human rights emergencies, including Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. The invasion completely upended people’s lives and created obstacles to the fulfilment of other human rights like the right to education, right to health and freedom of expression. Thousands of people have been killed and thousands more illegally detained or forcibly disappeared.”
– Amnesty International
Background from Amnesty International: “Our researchers and campaigners are dedicated to documenting human rights violations in Ukraine. With your help, we’re calling for the protection of human rights and civilians; as well as full respect of international humanitarian law, the rights of Ukrainian victims to truth, justice, and reparations, and a final end to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”
Source: ‘Russia’s Aggression in Ukraine,’ Amnesty International, 19 February 2025
“Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, its media has experienced an unprecedented crackdown. Hundreds of journalists have been forced into exile, where they continue to face transnational legal persecution, and their families have been harassed back home. Meanwhile, reporting from inside Russia has become increasingly difficult, with journalists and media outlets often silenced by laws criminalizing independent coverage.”
– Committee to Protect Journalists
Source: ‘Russia’s Repression Record,’ Committee to Protect Journalists, 11 February 2025
“Certainly, what we can say is that in every instance since the election, when Trump has changed, its been in a way that favors Putin. The election issue might be the most striking, but its hardly alone (see the G-7 statement, the moves towards economic cooperation, the calls for Ukraine to cede territory, the attempts to keep Europeans out of the negotiations over the future of Ukraine etc). It looks very much like a coordinated campaign to me. And all of these steps have one goal in mind—to strengthen Russia and weaken Ukraine.” – Phillips P. OBrien
Phillips P. OBrien, ‘Trump and Putin: Aligning over Ukrainian Elections. An Example of Them Working Together–and Reasons Why,’ Substack, 17 February 2025
