Based on the information provided by UN News, the human rights situation in Russia has experienced a significant decline, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine.
Mariana Katzarova, the UN's Special Rapporteur for Russia, has raised serious concerns about the suppression of civil and political rights, highlighting issues such as mass arbitrary arrests, the persistent use of torture and ill-treatment, and the lack of judicial independence and fair trial rights. The report indicates that these issues are not recent developments but are rooted in a pattern of incremental and calculated restrictions on human rights over the past two decades. This has led to a state policy effectively criminalizing dissent, whether actual or perceived. Over 20,000 people have been detained for participating in largely peaceful anti-war protests, with reports of torture, ill-treatment, sexual violence, and rape in detention. Additionally, Russian authorities have reportedly used propaganda to incite hatred and violence against Ukrainians, and even children in schools face severe consequences for expressing anti-war sentiments. The closure of civic space and silencing of public dissent and independent media have been highlighted as significant concerns, with changes in laws related to foreign agents and undesirable organizations heavily restricting independent voices. The UN expert has called for comprehensive human rights reforms in Russia, but the Russian Government has not accepted the report's mandate and denied the independent expert access to the country.