UN Expert Condemns Escalating Repression in Russia

Freed political prisoners call for action as over 1,300 remain jailed on arbitrary charges.

State repression in Russia has intensified since the 2022 Ukraine invasion, according to UN Special Rapporteur Mariana Katzarova.
More than 1,300 political prisoners are currently detained on fabricated charges, facing conditions including torture and solitary confinement.
Freed prisoners, including opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, urged international pressure to secure the release of others still incarcerated.
Russian authorities deny the extent of repression, claiming the West exaggerates the situation.
Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of President Putin, died in prison under disputed circumstances, with his wife accusing the Kremlin of foul play.