HRC63 - EU statement - Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Russian Federation

United Nations Human Rights Council

63^rd Session

Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Russian Federation

21 September 2026

EU statement

Mr. President, 

The EU thanks the Special Rapporteur for her report that shows how the structural system of repression within the Russian Federation extends beyond the country’s borders, aimed at also silencing dissent and criticism in exile. 

We fully support the renewal of your important mandate that represents a lifeline for Russian civil society.

The EU is alarmed about the findings of the report; targeted physical violence, including assassinations and poisonings, harassment of individuals and their families, abuse of legal and administrative procedures, surveillance, digital operations and abuse of INTERPOL mechanisms by Russian authorities are among the widespread practices targeting individuals inside and outside the Russian Federation.

The EU condemns the structural, intensifying system of human rights violations in Russia. We remain deeply concerned about the unabated systematic crackdown on civil society, particularly individuals and organizations designated as foreign agents or extremists, human rights defenders, LGBTI persons, Indigenous Peoples, lawyers, independent media, journalists, and the repression of political opposition and critical voices in and outside the country. 

The elections last weekend underscored the further deterioration of the political environment in Russia, marked by serious human rights violations and widespread repression of dissent.

We call on Russia to end domestic as well as transnational repression and discrimination on all grounds including based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The EU refers to its previous statements expressing strong concern on the widespread and systematic use of torture, denial of medical care in detention, misuse of judiciary and law enforcement and use of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and sexual and gender-based violence in Russia.

The EU urges Russia to immediately and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all those arbitrarily detained, including political prisoners and civilian detainees.

Madam Special Rapporteur, you have found that repression within Russia is bound to their aggression abroad. Are you planning further consultations on the implementation of your recommendations aimed at mitigating the effects of Russia’s transnational repression?