EXPLAINING THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN RUSSIA |
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In today’s special edition of the Dissident Digest, we want to address something crucial: the ongoing need for your support through donations to OVD-Info. For over a decade, we have tirelessly worked to defend human rights, monitor political repression, and protect those targeted for standing up to injustice. However, with the ever-growing challenges we face in the current political climate, your donations have never been more vital.
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In solidarity, OVD-Info’s Crowdfunding team |
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Donate to OVD-Info to keep us running | |
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Trigger warning:
This is a newsletter about Russian repressions. Sometimes it will be hard to read. |
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Dissident Digest special edition: We need your support more than ever |
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Every month in Russia, people get arrested for speaking out against the government — whether it’s protesting in the streets or simply posting on social media. In fact, you can end up a political prisoner just for holding a blank piece of paper. Safe protests? No longer possible. |
We stand by every person we can, making sure no one faces injustice alone — this is our motto. But we can’t do it without you. By supporting us, you’re standing with Russian civil society and helping keep the fight for human rights alive. |
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Russia’s authoritarian grip tightens by the day, even by the hour. Regular Russians — not just activists or politicians — are being targeted. And with the state offering no protection, the need for quick, reliable legal help has never been more urgent. |
We often say that by donating to OVD-Info, you are not just helping one person — you are fuelling change. Here is how it works and what we do thanks to your support. |
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We’ve got detainees’ backs |
If you’re being arrested, detained, or prosecuted in Russia, reaching out to OVD-Info is often your only chance for help. Law enforcement is now a perpetrator of injustice rather than a protector against it, so we’re the last line of defense. Our hotline is open 24/7, and we’re ready to take calls from anywhere in Russia. We connect people with lawyers, send legal support to police stations, defend detainees in court, and even file complaints with international courts and human rights bodies. All of this — our round-the-clock help and legal support — is made possible thanks to your donations.
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We shed light on political persecution |
We believe that getting the word out can stop abuses. That’s why our media team works hard to share stories of political persecution. We also run special projects and launch campaigns to keep political persecution in the public eye. |
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We collect data and do research |
We collect, verify, and organize tons of data on political repression. This data fuels our work and is a trusted resource for journalists, researchers, and activists. |
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We work with international human rights bodies |
We’re always pushing to keep human rights violations in Russia on the international radar. With your support, we work with international bodies to spotlight abuses and push for lasting change in Russia —where human rights are respected and protected. |
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We don’t do this alone! We work with a community of advocates, lawyers, volunteers, experts, and journalists who all help spread the word and keep up the fight. And, we can’t stress this enough, your support makes it all possible. |
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Your donations and future of human rights in Russia |
Just this past August, 16 prisoners were freed in a historic exchange with the West — 13 of them political prisoners. While we’re thrilled for those who made it out, we know the fight isn’t over. At least 1,300 people are still locked up on political charges, and our lawyers are currently working on over 90 of these cases. |
Your support isn’t just about the money — it’s about taking small but meaningful steps toward a future where human rights are protected, and people can speak freely without fear. |
And our impact is real. One of our success stories (trust us, it is a success) is Igor Baryshnikov, a 65-year-old activist from Sovetsk, the Kaliningrad Oblast. He was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for posting on Facebook, accused of spreading “fake news” about the Russian army. Igor suffers from prostate hyperplasia and has been relying on a cystostomy—a tube for urine drainage. Despite having a surgery scheduled to remove it, the doctors in prison kept delaying it. We asked our supporters to send petitions through the “Dyatel” platform, demanding medical care for Igor: 7,888 people took action! In September, Igor finally had his surgery. And we believe it wouldn’t have happened without OVD-Info’s efforts.
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Supporting OVD-Info is very simple and secure. Here’s how you can contribute: - Visit our donation page to make a one-time or recurring donation.
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Choose the amount that feels right for you, whether it’s the cost of a coffee or a larger contribution.
- Share our work with your friends, family, and colleagues—let them know why supporting OVD-Info is crucial.
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Please answer our questionnaire so we can better understand our audience! |
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Sources cited in the reading list are not necessarily aligned or in a formal partnership with us. It is just what the editor finds interesting. |
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created by OVD-Info, written by Ekaterina Sharapova and Inna Bondarenko & edited by Dr Lauren McCarthy |
OVD-Info English newsletter privacy policy: how we work with your data |
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