Russian Ministry of Justice Declares Human Rights Watch “Undesirable” and Expands List of “Foreign Agents”
Russia continues to tighten control over civil society and restrict international monitoring. As reported by ThePublic.info, the Russian Ministry of Justice has officially added Human Rights Watch (HRW) to its list of “undesirable organizations,” effectively banning its operations in the country.
Access to HRW materials has been limited since 2022, when the organization’s website was blocked by Roskomnadzor for allegedly spreading “false information” about Russia’s war against Ukraine.
In its January 2025 report, HRW highlighted that the Kremlin is intensifying the persecution of dissidents, pushing citizens to support the war and adopting new repressive laws. The organization also documented attempts to Russify education in occupied Ukrainian territories, along with reports of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war and the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Being labeled “undesirable” means a complete ban on activities in Russia, and cooperation with such organizations can result in administrative or criminal prosecution. Financial assistance or any form of support may lead to up to five years in prison and a 10-year ban on holding certain positions.
Founded in 1978, Human Rights Watch operates in more than 70 countries, monitoring human rights violations worldwide.
Russia Expands Its List of “Foreign Agents”
In addition to banning HRW, the Russian Ministry of Justice has updated its registry of “foreign agents.” New entries include:
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Yevgeny Savostyanov — former deputy head of the presidential administration of Russia
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Aigul Gimranova-Lyon — journalist
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Anzor Maskhadov — public figure and son of former Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov
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Vasilina Orlova — writer and poet
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Doxa — an online student-run media outlet, previously declared “undesirable,” forcing editors to leave the country
Freedom of Speech Under Attack
Earlier this year, another major organization — Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — was also declared “undesirable” in Russia. RSF is known globally for defending media freedom and fighting censorship.
Its 2025 World Press Freedom Index ranked Russia 171st out of 180 countries — dropping nine places compared to the previous year.
