Beyond borders
Leaving Russia does not mean leaving its legal system behind. Since 2022, the Russian state has dramatically expanded its use of extraterritorial legal tools to pursue journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens who have spoken out against the war.
The toolkit
- Interpol Red Notices: Requests to foreign law enforcement to locate and provisionally arrest individuals. Russia has filed hundreds since 2022, many flagged by Interpol's own review body as politically motivated.
- In-absentia criminal cases: Charges filed against individuals who have left the country, often under vague statutes like "spreading false information about the armed forces" (Article 207.3).
- Asset freezes and property seizure: Targeting the Russian-based assets of those abroad.
- Diplomatic pressure: Informal requests to host countries to restrict the activities of diaspora organisations.
The numbers
Legal defences
Several organisations provide legal support to those targeted:
- OVD-Info: Tracks cases and provides legal referrals
- First Department: Specialises in security-service-related cases
- Memorial (successor organisations): Human rights documentation and legal advocacy
The goal is not always conviction. The goal is fear. A Red Notice means you cannot travel freely, open a bank account easily, or live without looking over your shoulder.
What host countries can do
The article concludes with recommendations for European governments on how to better screen politically motivated Interpol requests and protect the rights of political exiles within their borders.
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