Russian intelligence officers reportedly masquerade as human rights activists and filmmakers.

Russia placed eighth in a global ranking of modern slavery.

Crypto exchanges in the main commercial district of Moscow transfer money to the UK anonymously.

The Russian Prosecutor General’s office declared the anti-corruption NGO Transparency International an "undesirable" organization.

“[This report] does not mean that Amnesty International holds Ukrainian forces responsible for violations committed by Russian forces, or that the Ukrainian military is not taking adequate precautions in other parts of the country. We must be very clear: nothing of the actions of the Ukrainian military, which we have documented, in any way justify Russia's violations.” 

                                   –  From a report released by Amnesty International

Russian prisoners with military experience are being recruited to join the fight in Ukraine.

"The Committee against Torture has been protecting the rights of citizens who have suffered from torture and inhuman treatment by government officials all their lives. Despite the obvious benefits of this mission, the authorities have been trying for many years to give it an alien and harmful outline... Apparently, the authorities are giving a signal that torture is becoming (or has already become) part of state policy and is not a problem. Here I would like to remind you about the Constitution, where torture is prohibited (for the time being)."

– Sergey Babinets, chairman of the Committee against Torture

A powerful, deep interview with one of Russia's leading artists and humanitarians, about her decision to leave Russia.

The history of Russia since 2008 has been to repeatedly lop off appendages – nose, ears, digits – to spite itself. Obsessed by erroneous threats, it has invaded its neighbors, quashed all democratic activity, rigged votes, interfered in foreign elections, harbored and/or enabled international cybercrime… and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The government wants to close down Memorial, while at the same time not be seen as the sort of repressive state that brought about the need for a Memorial. Lose-lose balancing act.

Belugas captured off Russia's Pacific coast since 2018 swam off into the sunset just like the hero of  the 1993 film Osvobodite Villi (Free Willy).

“The political field lives and evolves, it boils during election campaigns.”

– On Tuesday May 25, Press Secretary to the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov praises Russia’s political environment.