Russia is using an ever-growing arsenal of laws to shut down any space for discussion or dissent, including its ‘foreign agent’ and ‘undesirable organizations’ laws. TrialWatch has monitored several trials in Russia, including of opposition figures, journalists, lawyers, and activists and is also documenting the broader crackdown on political opposition, journalists, and those who defend the rights of vulnerable, in particular those protesting the invasion of Ukraine.
Between 2019 and 2023, TrialWatch monitored the relentless prosecution of Human Rights Lawyer Mikhail Benyash, who was convicted of assaulting the police, then his conviction was overturned with the TrialWatch Fairness Report having been used by the defense during the appeal. He was, however, tried and convicted again in 2023.
“During the appeal I attached the Trial Watch report and often quoted from it because it’s very well done.”
TrialWatch monitored some of the trials of Russian opposition figure, Alexey Navalny, and the trial of his lawyer, Ivan Pavlov.
Navalny was convicted of slander for criticizing those who appeared in a political video, saying that they were ‘corrupt stooges’ and ‘traitors.’ Not only did this violate his right to freedom of expression, but the trial itself was marred by violations of Mr. Navalny’s fair trial rights.
Ivan Pavlov, well-known for his defense of Aleksey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, was charged with leaking information to the local press about a former journalist who he was also defending. He was detained just days after the prosecutor’s office announced they wanted to outlaw groups linked to Aleksey Navalny.
In Russia, TrialWatch published a preliminary report on the case against LGBTQ+ activist Yulia Tsvetkova, after which she was acquitted. Ms. Tsvetkova, a 26-year-old women’s and LGBTQ+ rights activist from Siberia, was charged with pornography for posting artistic images of female genitalia as part of a body-positive women’s empowerment campaign and faced up to six years in prison.
Our report...
Russia: Activist Safely Out of Country
In Russia, TrialWatch published a preliminary report on the case against LGBTQ+ activist Yulia Tsvetkova, after which she was acquitted. Ms. Tsvetkova, a 26-year-old women’s and LGBTQ+ rights activist from Siberia, was charged with pornography for posting artistic images of female genitalia as part of a body-positive women’s empowerment campaign and faced up to six years in prison.
Our report details how the indictment against her was riddled with indicia of discrimination, suggesting for instance that the images she posted might create “a stereotype of female sexuality as an isolated phenomenon that exists outside of sexual relations with men.” While the prosecution appealed her acquittal, and the Court of Cassation ultimately ordered her retrial, she was able to safely get out of the country in the meantime.
It’s especially urgent that the public be permitted to see at least some of the trial given the indictment’s references to ‘erroneous ideas about the sexual sphere of a person,’ which suggest a risk of discrimination at trial.
Legal Director of TrialWatch
In Russia, TrialWatch secured a key decision from the UN on the persecution of Crimean Tatars. Server Mustafayev, a 32-year-old Crimean human rights defender, was prosecuted and convicted before a military court for membership in a terrorist organization: the charges were based on his involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic political group that is banned in Russia but operates...
Russia: Persecution of Crimean Tatars
In Russia, TrialWatch secured a key decision from the UN on the persecution of Crimean Tatar religious minorities. Server Mustafayev, a 32-year-old Crimean human rights defender, was prosecuted and convicted before a military court for membership in a terrorist organization: the charges were based on his involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic political group that is banned in Russia but operates legally in Ukraine.
He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with the TrialWatch Fairness Report finding that his trial was riddled with irregularities and that the authorities improperly applied Russian law to occupied Crimea.
TrialWatch and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher challenged Mustafayev’s conviction before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which urged Russia to immediately release Mustafayev.
Mr. Mustafayev’s trial was marred by egregious violations of due process that deprived him of any semblance of a fair trial as required under international law.
Associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Russia’s long-running campaign against 45-year-old human rights lawyer Mikhail Benyash culminated in his March 2023 retrial and conviction for allegedly assaulting the police.
TrialWatch monitored the first trial against Benyash in 2019 as part of its focus on how Russia is stifling dissent.
Our Fairness Report was used by the defense in its successful appeal that resulted in...
Russia: Supporting Human Rights Lawyer
Russia’s long-running campaign against 45-year-old human rights lawyer Mikhail Benyash culminated in his March 2023 retrial and conviction for allegedly assaulting the police.
TrialWatch monitored the first trial against Benyash in 2019 as part of its focus on how Russia is stifling dissent.
Our Fairness Report was used by the defense in its successful appeal that resulted in the overturning of Benyash’s conviction. TrialWatch helped ensure that the appeal hearings remained public, despite the court’s initial efforts to close them, by submitting a letter to the court highlighting serious fair trial problems in the first instance proceedings and the need for transparency on appeal.
After Benyash was released from prison, he went on to represent anti-war protesters in Russia who were arrested following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as soldiers who refused to fight in Ukraine.
During the appeal I attached the TrialWatch report and often quoted from it because it’s very well done.
Human Rights Lawyer
