Russia Bans Human Rights Watch Amid Intensifying Crackdown on Critics

Russia's Justice Ministry officially designated Human Rights Watch (HRW) as an "undesirable" organization on Friday, November 28, 2025, effectively banning its operations within the country. This move is seen as a further tightening of restrictions on civil society and independent monitoring, according to Al Jazeera.

The designation, made public by the Ministry of Justice, carries severe legal implications. Individuals found to be affiliated with HRW could face up to four years in prison, while organizational leaders risk up to six years, as reported by The Moscow Times on November 28, 2025.

Human Rights Watch expressed little surprise at the decision, with Tanya Lokshina, senior associate director of the group's Europe and Central Asia division, telling AFP that HRW would work even harder to expose the Kremlin's crackdown and report on alleged Russian crimes in Ukraine.

This ban is part of Russia's escalating repression against foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs), journalists, and dissenting voices. This trend has significantly intensified since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as noted by Mint on November 28, 2025.

HRW had already been compelled to close its Moscow office in 2022, alongside several other international organizations, due to alleged legal violations, a detail highlighted by UPI on November 28, 2025. The current "undesirable" designation formalizes a complete prohibition on its activities.

International rights groups and Western governments are widely expected to condemn this latest action as another significant step towards shrinking civic space in Russia, according to ground News on November 28, 2025. Moscow issued the decision without providing a specific official explanation.

• The "undesirable organizations" law, under which HRW was banned, was first introduced by Russia in 2015. This legislation grants prosecutors the authority to declare foreign or international groups a threat to state security or constitutional order, effectively shutting them down, as detailed by Human Rights Watch on November 28, 2025. International human rights bodies have consistently criticized this law for its repressive nature.

• Human Rights Watch, established in 1978 as Helsinki Watch, has a long history of documenting human rights violations in Russia, spanning approximately three decades, according to its official history. The organization has consistently advocated for human rights and freedoms, often publicly challenging the Russian government's actions.

• The legal ramifications for individuals associating with "undesirable" organizations are severe under Russian law. Anyone found to be working with, supporting, or donating to such groups faces potential criminal prosecution, including fines and lengthy prison sentences, as reported by kurdistan24 on November 28, 2025. This legal threat significantly chills local activism and civil society engagement.

• Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has dramatically intensified its crackdown on independent media and NGOs. Dozens of organizations, including Amnesty International in May 2025, have been designated as "undesirable," according to The Insider. This pattern reflects a concerted strategy by Moscow to suppress dissent and control narratives.

• The Russian government did not offer a specific public justification for designating Human Rights Watch as "undesirable," as noted by Vanguard News on November 28, 2025. However, HRW has been a prominent critic of Russia's military conduct and human rights record, particularly concerning the conflict in Ukraine, allegations Moscow consistently denies as biased and politically motivated.

• The ban on Human Rights Watch will significantly impede the independent monitoring and verification of human rights violations within Russia. This action further reduces transparency and accountability, making it increasingly difficult for the international community to accurately assess the human rights situation on the ground, according to an analysis by Human Rights Watch on November 28, 2025.

• Despite the official ban, Human Rights Watch has reiterated its commitment to continuing its work remotely. Tanya Lokshina of HRW affirmed the organization's resolve to document human rights abuses and alleged war crimes, demonstrating a determination to maintain its advocacy efforts even without a physical presence in Russia.

• The "undesirable organizations" law operates in conjunction with Russia's earlier "foreign agent" law, enacted in 2012. The "foreign agent" legislation targets foreign-funded NGOs engaged in broadly defined "political activity," imposing heavy administrative burdens and stigmatizing them, as explained by Amnesty International in 2016. Both laws have been instrumental in forcing many independent groups to cease operations.