Week-ending 10 April 2026
‘I am appalled by the Russian authorities’ designation of Memorial, one of the oldest and most prominent human rights organisations in the country, as an “extremist” organisation – effectively criminalising critical human rights work. This decision is part of a broader, unsettling pattern in which the Russian authorities are applying laws intended to combat extremism to prosecute individuals or organisations under the guise that they are associated with vaguely defined extremist “movements” or groups. Yesterday’s raid on Russian independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta and the detention of journalist Oleg Roldugin, are also indicative of this continuing clampdown on civic space, freedom of expression and association, and repression targeting any individuals or groups perceived to be opposed to the Government. I call on the Russian authorities to ensure compliance with their obligations under international human rights law. I urge them to immediately annul the latest decision on Memorial and ensure that no individual is subjected to criminal or administrative liability for the exercise of their fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful association.’
– Volker Türk, UN Human Rights Chief, on the Russian designation of Memorial as “extremist”
Source: ‘Comment by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Russian designation of Memorial as “extremist”,’ Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 10 April 2026
‘Today’s verdict reveals how the Russian judicial system continues to rubber-stamp politically motivated reprisals. The charges brought against these young people were so outlandish, so blatantly fabricated, and the “evidence” presented so weak, that the only reasonable thing for the court to do was to throw the case out at the very start. Instead, the court handed down prison sentences, punishing the young people for expressing their views, and for their civic engagement and anti-war activism. This verdict lays bare that the Russian authorities treat principled anti-war activism as a crime, branding it as “extremism”. All co-defendants in the Vesna case must be immediately and unconditionally released and the verdict overturned. Russian authorities must end their abuse of criminal legislation to silence dissent and adhere to their obligations under international human rights law, including full respect for the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.’
– Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, responding to the draconian sentences issued against young activists prosecuted for their actual or perceived affiliation with the Russian youth democratic movement Vesna (Spring)
Source: ‘Russia: Imprisoned young anti-war activists must be immediately and unconditionally released,’ Amnesty International, 8 April 2026
Background from Amnesty International: On 8 April 2026, the St. Petersburg City Court delivered its verdict in the case against six young activists the authorities believe to be members of the youth democratic movement Vesna. The court issued severe prison terms: 12 years for Anna Arkhipova, 11 years for Yan Ksenzhepolsky, 10 years for Vasiliy Neustroev and, 7.5 years for Pavel Sinelnikov, 6 years and 2 months for Evgeniy Zateev and Valentin Khoroshenin. In addition, the court imposed lengthy post-release bans on taking part in public events and online publication. Amnesty International has designated Anna Arkhipova, Vasiliy Neustroev, Yan Ksenzhepolsky, Evgeniy Zateev and Pavel Sinelnikov as prisoners of conscience The six activists were detained on 6 June 2023 in different cities, transferred to Moscow and placed in pre-trial detention. They faced multiple charges including organizing and participating in an “extremist community,” “disseminating false information about the Armed Forces,” “disrespect for days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia,” “public calls for activities deemed to threaten state security” and “incitement to organize mass unrest” based largely on social media posts and public statements opposing the war in Ukraine. Valentin Khoroshenin is the only one who pleaded guilty to the charges and testified against his co-defendants. At least 15 other alleged Vesna members have left Russia and are on police “wanted” lists.
‘On 17 December 2025 [Daria Egereva] was detained and charged under Article 205.5, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code (“participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation”). Daria Egereva is a prominent human rights defender and climate activist who has long engaged in international advocacy for Indigenous peoples. Her work has focused exclusively on climate issues, Indigenous culture, languages, and women’s rights. Daria’s prosecution appears to be a direct retaliation for her human rights work. Counterterrorism legislation must not be misused to target Indigenous civil society and silence those who promote and protect the rights of minority communities.’
Source: ‘Russian Federation: Indigenous leader detained in Russia: Daria Egereva,’ Amnesty International, 8 April 2026
Background from Amnesty International: Daria Egereva is a representative of the Selkup people – one of the small Indigenous groups of Western Siberia in Russia. She also serves as Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) and is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing Indigenous rights globally. Daria was detained in December 2025. At the same time, searches were conducted at the homes of at least 17 other Indigenous activists and human rights defenders, suggesting a broader crackdown on Indigenous civil society.
‘For close to 40 years, Memorial’s tireless commitment to documenting past and ongoing repression in Russia has ensured that violations against millions of people are not forgotten. These include the victims of Stalin’s GULAG, unlawful acts and human rights abuses in conflicts in Chechnya, Georgia and Ukraine, and the arbitrary detention of hundreds of the Kremlin’s critics and political opponents today. A frontline human rights organization, Memorial has bravely defended human rights in the face of horrific reprisals, including the persecution, detention and killing of its staff. By labelling Memorial as ‘extremist,’ the authorities are not just targeting one of Russia’s oldest civil society organizations and co-winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, they are criminalizing human rights work itself. From now on, liking or sharing Memorial’s social media and other materials, and any reference to them in publications without mentioning the organization’s ‘extremist’ status, may be prosecuted as a criminal act. These blatant attempts by the Kremlin to ban Memorial and erase its extensive archives of human rights violations from the public domain are deplorable. The Russian authorities must immediately reverse this outrageous decision and ensure that Memorial and other human rights groups can operate freely in line with Russia’s obligations under international human rights law.’
– Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Regional Director, reacting to the news that the Russian authorities have arbitrarily designated prominent human rights group Memorial as “extremist” and banned its activities in the country
Source: Russia: “Extremist” label and ban of Nobel Prize winner Memorial criminalizes human rights work,’ Amnesty International, 9 April 2026
Background from Amnesty International: In a closed hearing held on 9 April 2026, Russia’s Supreme Court granted a request by the Ministry of Justice to designate the “International public movement Memorial” – a catch-all term that the government is using to impose the ban on all Memorial-related organizations – as “extremist” and ban its activities in the country. This move culminates a years-long campaign against Memorial, which was founded in the late Soviet period and has since grown into a community of dozens of sister organizations operating in Russia and abroad. In May 2014 one of them, Russia-based Human Rights Centre Memorial, was designated as a “foreign agent.” Since then, the Russian authorities have labelled several other Memorial organizations as well as around 20 of its staff members “foreign agents.” In December 2021, International Memorial and Human Rights Centre Memorial were liquidated for alleged violations of the repressive “foreign agents” law. In February 2026, the Ministry of Justice added the Switzerland-based Memorial International Association and German foundation Zukunft Memorial to the list of “undesirable organizations.”
‘Russian authorities should lift this punitive designation on Memorial and support civil society, not seek to dismantle it. […] By designating Memorial ‘extremist,’ Russian authorities essentially outlaw human rights work. This is yet another low blow in the Kremlin’s staggering assault on civil society. Memorial and other Russian rights groups now need the support of the international community more than ever.’
– Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Source: ‘Russia: Memorial Rights Group Declared ‘Extremist’. Authorities Seek to Suppress History, Human Rights under Draconian Laws,’ Human Rights Watch, 10 April 2026
Background from HRW: The Russian Supreme Court on April 9, 2026, designated “International Public Movement Memorial” as an “extremist” organization in a dramatic escalation of the Kremlin’s efforts to suppress human rights work, Human Rights Watch said today. The sweeping “extremist” designation entails a ban on engaging in any of Memorial organizations’ activities under the threat of lengthy prison sentences. Memorial is one of Russia’s oldest and most respected rights groups. In 2022, it became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for its “outstanding effort to document war crimes, human rights abuses and the abuse of power.” Numerous independent Memorial organizations in Russia and abroad also conduct historical research and document Soviet-era repression and the contemporary human rights crackdown.
‘The search of Novaya Gazeta’s office in Moscow and the detention of journalist Oleg Roldugin mark the latest escalation in years of pressure exerted by Russian authorities on the media outlet. Officials must immediately release journalist Oleg Roldugin and allow Novaya Gazeta’s staff to work without fear of retaliation.’
– Carlos Martínez de la Serna, CPJ Chief Programs Officer
Source: ‘Moscow police raid Novaya Gazeta, detain journalist Oleg Roldugin,’ Committee to Protect Journalists, 9 April 2026
Background from CPJ: Russian authorities must immediately release journalist Oleg Roldugin and stop the targeted persecution of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose office was searched on Thursday in Moscow, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. On April 9, law enforcement officers searched Novaya Gazeta’s office as part of a criminal case opened on March 10 under Article 272.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code for alleged “illegal use, transfer or storage of information containing personal data.” On the same day, police in Moscow detained Roldugin, a columnist for the outlet, after searching his home, and took him for questioning in connection with the criminal case. Update from CPJ of 10 April 2026: On April 10, a court in Moscow placed Roldugin under arrest until May 10, pending investigation.
