On September 22, 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement asserting that the Russian government continues to employ repression to silence dissent, particularly targeting those who condemn the war in Ukraine, independent journalists and writers, and individuals supporting peaceful political opposition. In this context, HRW called for the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia (source).
HRW noted that as of August 2025, the political prisoner list compiled by the rights group Memorial included 1,024 individuals — a significant increase from 776 a year earlier.
Human Rights Watch urged the international community to intensify pressure on Russian authorities to halt human rights violations and release political prisoners.
About Human Rights Watch (HRW):
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1978 as Helsinki Watch to monitor compliance with the Helsinki Accords in Soviet bloc countries. In 1988, it merged with other regional organizations such as Africa Watch, Asia Watch, and Middle East Watch to form the current Human Rights Watch. Headquartered in New York, USA, HRW operates in over 100 countries, including Russia, where it documents human rights violations, including torture, unlawful detentions, and persecution of political opponents (hrw.org).