Russia

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The U.S. government should place human rights at the center of this key relationship.

We partner with LGBT and other civil society activists in Russia who are fighting for their rights. Taking our cue from these activists, we urge the U.S. government to emphasize human rights in its diplomacy with Russia, all the more important now that the Putin government has launched a far-ranging clampdown on dissent. Photo: AP.

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Latest News and Press Releases

June 07, 2019

White House Should Address Poland's Democratic Decline, Not Military Aid During Duda Visit

Washington, D.C.— In advance of next week’s White House visit by Polish President Andrzej Duda, Human Rights First calls on the Trump Administration to raise the Polish ...

May 28, 2019

Bipartisan Resolution Addresses Eroding Democracy in Hungary

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today applauded introduction of new bipartisan legislation expressing deep concern over the Government of Hungary weakening democratic institutions, undermine...

March 29, 2019

Human Rights, Democracy, and Anti-Corruption Groups Call on Congress to Support Global Magnitsky

Washington, D.C.—On March 28, a group of 40 human rights, democracy, and anti-corruption organizations and experts led by Human Rights First and Freedom House...

November 05, 2018

Human Rights First Applauds Creation of Fact Finding Mission into Abuses of LGBTQ Persons, Human Rights Workers in Chechnya

Human Rights First welcomes the actions of 16 countries, including the United States, to implement the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) so-called...

July 10, 2018

New Resource Details Russian Government’s Efforts to Undermine Democracy, Human Rights, and Fundamental Freedoms

Washington, D.C.—In advance of President Trump's July 16 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Human Rights First today released a new fact sheet detailing how the Russian...

June 27, 2018

Congressional Delegation to Russia Must Raise Human Rights Concerns, Meet with Civil Society

New York City—In response to reports that a group of Republican lawmakers planned to travel to Russia and meet with senior Russia officials, Human Rights First Senior Vice President for Policy...

March 05, 2018

Tillerson, Mnuchin Urged to Use Sanctions Under Global Magnitsky Act

Washington, D.C. – Human Rights First today called on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to robustly implement sanctions in 2018 under the Global Magnitsky...

Related Event

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December 12, 2013

Civil Society Under Assault

Global Repercussions and U.S. Responses

Authoritarian regimes are undermining international norms on freedom of association and blocking U.S. efforts to support civil society. Are the United States and the international community doing enough to address the global crackdown on civil society? What support for civil society is most effective? And what changes in U.S. policy are needed?

Resources

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Factsheet | 2016

Spread of Russian-Style Propaganda Laws

The international LGBT community has watched in horror as Russia’s brand of discriminatory propaganda legislation has taken root outside its borders.

The flagship piece of that legislation, the federal law banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors,” has

Issue Brief | June 07, 2019

Poland’s Attacks on the Rule of Law: How Party Loyalty Tests in the Military and Intelligence Harm U.S. and NATO Security

Download PDF Introduction When meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office in September 2018, Polish President Andrzej Duda urged the United States to create a permanent military base in...

Opinions | February 26, 2019

Polish Government Extinguishing Rule of Law: The United States Must Make Clear to Its Close Ally that Values Matter, Authoritarian-Style Policies Not Acceptable in NATO

Read Full Report and Download This article originally appeared in The Anatomy of Illiberal States: Assessing and Responding to Democratic Decline in Turkey and Central Europe, published by The...

Report | July 11, 2018

Justice Purged: Poland Politicizes its Judiciary

Introduction Poland is soon approaching a point of no return concerning the independence of its judiciary. On July 3, more than 40 percent of the country’s 73 Supreme Court judges as of July 3 are...

Factsheet | July 10, 2018

Helsinki Summit: A Review of Vladimir Putin’s Record of Human Rights Violations and Attacks on Democratic Institutions

Read More and Download On July 16, U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland. According to White House officials,...