Week-ending 11 July 2025
‘On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the Russian state escalated its crackdown on civil society with a wave of coordinated actions that targeted journalists, human rights defenders, election monitors, cultural workers and academic institutions. […] The scale of this repression has a chilling effect on the few remaining independent human rights and civic groups in Russia. It was a calculated assault on independent thought, civic participation and transparency. The Russian state is sending a clear message: they will not stop until those critical of them have been fully silenced. We condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with those affected. What took place on July 8 represents a particular nadir in the dismantling of Russia’s civil society. We call for solidarity from governments, academic institutions, cultural organisations and civil society organisations. Now is the time to take concrete steps to support independent journalism, academic freedom and human rights in Russia. This includes providing emergency support to affected individuals and organisations, challenging Russia’s designation of “undesirable” institutions and ensuring these developments are raised in international forums like the UN and the Council of Europe.’
Source: CSF Board Statement: July 8 Marks a New Low for Russian Civil Society, Civil Society Forum, 10 July 2025
Background from Civil Society Forum: [On Tuesday, July 8, 2025] Authorities carried out searches and detentions in at least six regions — from Kaliningrad to Irkutsk — including raids on independent journalists, activists and cultural associations. Equipment was seized, individuals were interrogated and several were detained. That same day, the election-monitoring group Golos, one of the last remaining independent sources of electoral oversight in Russia, announced its forced shutdown. Its co-chair, Grigory Melkonyants, was recently sentenced to five years in prison for participating in and organising the activities of an “undesirable” organisation. Also on July 8, in an absurd move, the Russian government officially designated Yale University an “undesirable organisation,” citing its scholarships to associates of Navalny and its support for legal efforts to sanction Russia and redirect the resulting fees to Ukraine.The move effectively criminalises cooperation with one of the world’s most respected academic institutions and signals growing hostility to international education and research.
‘Russian Telegram channels have been sharing images of forged documents purporting to originate with ARTICLE 19. We confirm that the documents and contracts shared online are fake. ARTICLE 19 has never had any association with the company Kultpik or the Revolt Centre. We strongly denounce the tactics of using alleged association with our organisation as a pre-text for targeting and prosecution of organisations in Russia.’
Source: ‘Russia: ARTICLE 19 denounces FSB raid on Revolt Centre based on falsified contract,’ Article 19, 8 July 2025
Background from Article 19: Today [8 July 2025] Russian Security Forces (FSB) raided a cultural centre in Syktyvkar, northern Russia, because of alleged ties with ARTICLE 19, which is designated an ‘undesirable’ organisation in Russia.
