Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Russia has officially designated Human Rights Watch as an “undesirable organization,” resulting in a complete ban on its operations within the country.

Getting into it: The designation was made public on November 28, 2025, when Russia’s Ministry of Justice added Human Rights Watch (HRW) to its official registry of “undesirable organizations,” a decision reportedly approved earlier in November by the Prosecutor General’s Office. This classification bans any activity by the organization inside the country and criminalizes collaboration, dissemination of materials, or even online engagement with HRW, with penalties ranging from administrative fines to six years of imprisonment.

Russian authorities did not release an official justification for the move, but the inclusion marks a significant expansion of the Kremlin’s legal arsenal used to target independent watchdogs and foreign NGOs deemed hostile to the state. While Russian officials have long accused HRW of undermining national security and spreading anti-Russian narratives, the group has been particularly vocal in documenting human rights violations linked to the country’s military actions in Ukraine, including war crimes and abuses against civilians.

Human Rights Watch has condemned the designation, vowing to continue its operations remotely and expand its scrutiny of Kremlin actions. “Our work hasn’t changed, but what’s changed is the government’s full-throttled embrace of dictatorial policies,” said Philippe Bolopion, HRW’s executive director. Tanya Lokshina, HRW’s senior associate director for Europe and Central Asia, added that the group’s mission is to document Russian crimes and pledged not to be silenced by legal intimidation.

This all comes as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the move, calling it an attack on civil society.