repression – Andrey Sakharov Institute

by Denis Grigorian

August 21, 2026

No more political theater: the naked truth is better than a sweet lie. In Russia, the last establishment party still pretending to offer a liberal alternative — Yabloko — has been removed from the election.

The Masks Are Off. The Kremlin No Longer Even Wants to Pretend It Is Playing Democracy […]

by Denis Grigorian

August 19, 2026

“If a Friend Suddenly Turns Out…” — Not a Friend, but a Real Enemy: Sergey Lange Sentenced to 15 Years for Following the FSB’s Instructions and Continuing the “Surveillance”

The case of Sergey Lange is not entirely representative of persecution specifically for words or beliefs, […]

by Denis Grigorian

August 15, 2026

Hunting down dissenters in Russia: Polina Yevtushenko was sentenced to 14 years for a conversation on a date with a provocateur. Her daughter spent her sixth birthday without her mother.

Very disturbing news is coming out of Russia. And although in this case it did not […]

by Denis Grigorian

Exchange of technologies for suppressing free thought: in Russia, Denis Popov was sentenced to 25 years for donations to a political video blogger

Twenty-five years for a subscription, donations and a treason charge: Russia is approaching the threshold of […]

by Denis Grigorian

“Tell Me Who Your Friend Is, and I’ll Tell You Who You Are”: Russia Recognizes the Taliban as a Partner, but Designates SK SOS, a Human Rights Group Saving Women and LGBTQ+ People from Violence, an “Extremist Organization”

The ranks of Russia’s so-called “enemies” have grown once again. And who has been awarded this […]

by Denis Grigorian

Authoritarian Mutual Aid — a New USSR? Georgy Pirogov Disappeared in Uzbekistan, Turned Up in a Moscow Detention Center, and Was Sentenced to 23 Years

Disturbing news comes not only from Russia but also from other post-Soviet states. The story of […]

by Denis Grigorian

A Paid Telegram Reaction as “Financing Terrorism,” State Power as a Machine for Sophisticated Mass Killing: Teenager Sentenced to Four Years for an Online Reaction Worth No More Than 200 Rubles (€2)

Sad news has come from Kuzbass. A seventeen-year-old resident of the city of Belovo was sentenced […]

by Denis Grigorian

Georgy Minasyan, branded a “terrorist” by Russia for merely suggesting that Ukraine had the right to retaliate, has passed away.

Another tragedy has come out of Russia. It has become known that Georgy Minasyan, a man […]

by Denis Grigorian

When the Political System Becomes Faith and Truth: Deputy Maxim Kruglov Sentenced to Seven Years for So-Called “Fake News”

Another Epilogue to Common Sense? Seven Years for a Deputy for Words About Something That Has […]