In today’s newsletter we are going to tell you about our comprehensive report on repression in 2024. We will also cover the relaunch of the OVD-Info Telegram channel focused on data and a competition for master's and PhD students researching the pressure exerted by the Russian authorities on civil society.
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OVD-Info Annual Report
We published a report detailing the new victims of the Russian regime and the ongoing methods of pressure on civil society by the security forces. In particular, we observed a downward trend in the scale of repression; for example, compared to last year, fewer administrative cases have been initiated for discrediting the Russian army this year. This may be due to a decrease in public anti-war activity resulting from self-censorship and potential risks. At the same time, political actions continue to take place in Russia. The largest rallies in 2024 2024, which were met with harassment from the authorities, occurred in Bashkortostan in January over the sentencing of local activist Fail Alsynov.
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The repressive apparatus has shifted its focus to new victims. In particular, based on our observations, law enforcement has become more active in persecuting individuals because of their nationality, their status as “foreign agents”, and their affiliation with the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition to our own data, we used materials from our colleagues. While writing the annual review, we examined data from the Sova Research Center, the Vykhod group, Groza media, and the human rights projects Pervy Otdel (Department One) and The Crew Against Torture.
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Presentation of Annual Report
Members of the OVD-Info will present key data on persecution and highlight the main trends of the repressive apparatus during the presentation of the report on the evening of the 30th January in the hall of the main building of the EHESS on 54, boulevard Raspail (75007 Paris).
What do these findings tell us, and what can we expect in the near future? These questions will be explored during a roundtable discussion with journalists, researchers, and human rights advocates following the presentation.
To visit the event, please register below. Limited translation from English will be available in place.
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The relaunch of the Telegram channel "According to OVD-Info"
Furthermore, we have relaunched the OVD-Info Telegram channel dedicated to data, where we regularly publish key figures regarding political persecution in Russia. In one of our latest posts, we highlighted how the authorities continue to use COVID-19 restrictions, even four years after the peak of the pandemic, to exert pressure on participants in demonstrations and solitary pickets.
We also sometimes give a little glimpse into our lives. Recently, we shared a post about the fact that OVD-Info staff members know 35 languages, including Tatar, Japanese, and Latin.
The channel is only available in Russian.
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If you are interested in collaboration or writing a report based on OVD-Info data, we would be happy to answer any questions via email: data@ovdinfo.org |
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OI Prize for Researchers
We would also like to inform you that OVD-Info has announced an award for outstanding master’s and PhD theses on repression, surveillance, and censorship in contemporary Russia. Students can submit works in sociology, political science, law, anthropology, computer science and communication studies, geography, or any closely related discipline. The authors of the best research papers, written in either Russian or English, will receive €2,000, and the jury will assist the award winners in preparing their work for submission to a scientific journal. Applications with 250-word abstract of the project can be submitted until January 31, 2025.
The competition is launched in collaboration with the Center for Russian, Caucasian, East European, and Central Asian Studies at the Paris School of Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, the Center for International Studies at Sciences Po University, and the Institute of Social and Political Sciences at Paris X - Nanterre.
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Thank you for being with us last year! We greatly appreciate your support.
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We want to live in a country in which the state and public institutions create a space of political freedom and reliably protect citizens and their organizations from political violence.
OVD-Info sees its task in resisting political repression here and now and increasing the chances of their disappearance in the future. Thank you for not giving up with us and continuing to help.
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Always with you,
OVD-Info data team |
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Illustrations: OVD-Info, Anna Markevich |
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