Russia has added Human Rights Watch (HRW) to its list of “undesirable” organisations, effectively banning the New York–based rights group from operating anywhere within its territory.
The decision was announced on Friday by Russia’s Ministry of Justice. Authorities did not give any official reason for the ban, and HRW which shut down its physical offices in Russia in 2022 has not immediately responded to the designation.
Since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian authorities have intensified a sweeping crackdown on critics of the Kremlin and opponents of the war. Dozens of foreign and domestic organisations have been outlawed under the “undesirable” label, a classification that criminalises any cooperation with the targeted group.
Human Rights Watch has consistently criticised Russia’s conduct in Ukraine, accusing Russian forces of committing widespread human rights violations — allegations that Moscow rejects.
HRW is known globally for investigating abuses committed by governments and armed forces, and publishing detailed reports on violations of civilian and humanitarian rights.
It now joins a growing list of international organisations barred from Russia, including Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, Transparency International, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Under Russian law, individuals who work with or donate to “undesirable” organisations face possible prosecution.
The move deepens concerns about Russia’s shrinking civic space, as the government continues to suppress dissent, restrict independent monitoring, and silence groups that document rights abuses.