Abstract
This brief analyzes the transnational repressions (TNR) conducted by Russia against its critics and opposition abroad, particularly in European Union countries. TNR are state actions aimed at persecuting, intimidating, and retaliating against citizens abroad, constituting a serious violation of international law and human rights. Digital attacks and account hacking, surveillance in public spaces, and pressure on relatives — all threaten the security, freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of movement of EU residents.
With the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we observe not only an increase in the number of TNRs from Russia but also their structural changes. Now, targets of attacks are not only defectors like Sergei Skripal or Alexander Litvinenko, political opponents of Ramzan Kadyrov, such as the Yamadayevs, but also a broad circle of lawyers, journalists, political activists – essentially, all actively opposing the Kremlin. However, these actions are often perceived as part of the Kremlin’s repressive policy and do not receive due attention as a separate phenomenon. Meanwhile, Russian actions against critics abroad require urgent analysis and countermeasures. The growth in the number of Russian emigrants in the EU, mostly opponents of the Putin regime, makes Russian diasporas an obvious target for political attacks.
In this brief apart from providing general statistics we examine in detail three cases of TNR by Russia in the European Union against opposition politicians, civil society leaders and journalists in Prague and Berlin. These examples highlight Russia’s strategy of intimidating critics and influencing the political agenda of EU countries. The report also focuses on the European Union’s role in protecting human rights and upholding international law within its territory. It discusses the destructive impact of TNR on EU democratic values and principles and proposes potential steps to counter this threat. In conclusion, we emphasize the necessity of recognizing Russia’s TNR as a serious challenge to the international community, requiring a coordinated response.
Author
- Vitaly Bovar (Collective Action think tank)
Supervisor
- Sergey Ross (Collective Action think tank)
Keywords
- transnational repressions (TNR)
- authoritarian regimes
- EU security
- human rights on EU territory
- legislation and policy on TNR
