Russian Federation: Human rights organisation OVD-Info added to “extremist organisation” list

The Observatory has been informed of the judicial harassment and stigmatisation of OVD-Info, а Russian human rights organisation focused on protecting fundamental rights. OVD-Info, whose acronym stands for “Information on Police Stations”, was established in December 2011 in the aftermath of the violent dispersal of a large protest in Moscow against alleged fraud in the State Duma elections, with the aim of tracking detainees following protest-related arrests. The organisation monitors detentions and violations of the rights to freedom of assembly and association across Russia, provides legal assistance to detained protesters and politically motivated defendants, and conducts advocacy campaigns in support of political prisoners.

On 4 June 2026, the Russian authorities updated the official list of terrorist and extremist organisations to include OVD-Info, along with 35 other organisations, apparently on the basis of a ruling by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation declaring the non-existent “International Memorial Movement” a terrorist organisation. The hearing was held behind closed doors and the court’s decision has never been published. Attempts by Memorial representatives to appeal it were dismissed on the grounds that the ruling did not affect their interests.

Among the 36 organisations added to the list were Memorial’s regional branches involved in preserving the memory of the victims of Stalinist repression, International Memorial and the Memorial Human Rights Centre, which were dissolved by a court in December 2021, the Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre, as well as Memorial organisations based in Europe.

According to Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, participating in or financing an extremist organisation in Russia is punishable by up to 12 years in prison. Displaying symbols of the extremist organisation is punishable with up to 15 days in detention for the first offense (art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and up to 4 years in prison for a repeat offense (art. 282.4 of the Criminal Code). The authorities may include individuals suspected of involvement with an extremist organisation in the countrywide “list of extremists” and freeze their bank accounts.

The Observatory recalls that OVD-Info was declared as “foreign agent” in September 2021.

The Observatory strongly condemns the designation of OVD-Info as an “extremist organisation”, which is only aimed at sanctioning its legitimate human rights activities and its exercise of the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression.

The Observatory urges the Russian authorities to remove OVD-Info, together with 35 other organisations affiliated with Memorial, from the list of extremist organisations, and for the reversal of the court ruling that designated the so-called “International Memorial Movement” as extremist and to put an end to any act of harassment against OVD-Info and their members as well as against all organisations defending human rights in the country.

The Observatory also strongly condemns the trend of designating unregistered “public international movements” as “extremist” to facilitate the persecution of human rights organisations and defenders.