<\/p>\n
Reacting to news that a prosecutor\u2019s office in Moscow is about to initiate criminal proceedings on \u201cextremism\u201d charges against prisoners\u2019 rights advocate Anna Karetnikova, from the Memorial Human Rights Centre, who is currently living in exile, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International\u2019s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cAmnesty International has long warned of the danger that Russia\u2019s vague and overly broad anti-extremism legislation would be used to criminalize lawful human rights work. Today, those fears are being realized with the criminal case against Anna Karetnikova \u2013 the first time such charges have been used against an individual solely because of their human rights work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough Anna Karetnikova is living in exile and can only be tried in absentia, the threat of prosecution sends a chilling message that is intended to silence human defenders in Russia and abroad, stop them from documenting violations and deter them from speaking up for the victims of these abuses. Criminalizing the human rights work of a leading, Nobel Peace Prize-winning NGO is a harmful and shameful move that further exposes Russian authorities\u2019 true motives.<\/p>\n
\nCriminalizing the human rights work of a leading, Nobel Peace Prize-winning NGO is a harmful and shameful move that further exposes Russian authorities\u2019 true motives<\/p>\n
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International\u2019s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cThe Russian authorities must drop these charges against Anna Karetnikova, close this case and stop abusing absurdly broad and vague \u2018extremism\u2019 legislation against their critics, whether they be human rights defenders, political opponents, LGBTI people or dissident religious groups. Russia\u2019s repressive legislation must be brought into line with the country\u2019s international human rights obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n
On 26 October 2026, the Lefortovo Interdistrict Prosecutor\u2019s Office in Moscow announced that it had gathered materials to initiate criminal proceedings against Anna Karetnikova on charges of \u201cparticipation in activities of an extremist organization\u201d (Article 282.2(2) of the Criminal Code) and \u201cevasion of duties of a foreign agent\u201d (Article 330.1(2)).<\/p>\n
Although the prosecutors didn\u2019t name the \u201cextremist organization\u201d in question directly, Anna Karetnikova has worked or collaborated since 2002 with Memorial Human Rights Centre, Russia\u2019s oldest human rights group. Four years after it was awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, Memorial was arbitrarily designated as \u201cextremist\u201d by Russian authorities in April 2026.<\/p>\n
Between 2008 and 2016, Karetnikova served on Moscow\u2019s Public Monitoring Commission, an independent public body monitoring detention facilities. She later worked as a lead analyst for the Federal Penitentiary Service before being fired from her position in January 2023 and leaving Russia. In April 2025, she was arbitrarily designated as a \u201cforeign agent\u201d by the Ministry of Justice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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