[english]
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought.”
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.”
These are not just moral ideals. They are binding principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Principles that every United Nations member, including the Russian Federation, has pledged to uphold. But today, these rights stop short at the borders of the official and unofficial borders of the Russian Federation. They stop with those who dare to speak up for justice, truth, and dignity—especially those who identify as Native peoples of the territories that find themselves part of the Russian Federation.
The Russian Federation, as the legal successor of the Soviet Union—one of the original architects and supporters of the Universal Declaration—should, in theory, be leading the way in defending human rights. Instead, Russia has turned its back on this legacy. Not only does it neglect its obligations under international law, it actively persecutes those who exercise the very rights it once helped enshrine.
Even a quick look at the Republic of Karelia is enough to prove the above claim true. Here, cultural and political activists face not debate, not dialogue, but prison, psychiatric detention, and state-sanctioned intimidation. While Russian officials sit at UN tables and lecture others on democracy, Karelians who speak the truth about their history, their rights, and their future are silenced, brutalized, and erased from public life.
Take the case of Yurij Dmitriev, a respected and courageous historian who devoted his life to uncovering the dark, buried truths of Karelia’s past. His life's mission was to expose the horrors of Stalin's Great Terror, particularly through his work at Sandarmokh, where he led the excavation of mass graves holding the remains of thousands of innocent victims of the Soviet purges. He became a voice for truth, a defender of memory, and a symbol of moral resistance in a state increasingly hostile to honest reflection. Dmitriev was one of the many public figures who dared to openly criticize the misconduct and abuses of the Russian government, using his voice not just to confront the past, but to warn against its repetition. In a system that fears truth, this made him dangerous. His unwavering commitment to memory and his fearless public speeches made him a target. And so, the state responded the way it often does - with repression. Dmitriev was arrested on fabricated charges, in a transparent attempt to destroy his credibility, silence his voice, and send a chilling message to others who might dare to speak out. His persecution was not only an attack on history, but a direct attack on truth, and on the right of every citizen to freely and democratically express their political thoughts and opinions.
Or consider Vladimir Zavarkin, a seasoned Karelian politician and tireless political activist who, for well over a decade, has refused to remain silent in the face of injustice. Year after year, Zavarkin has spoken out against the entrenched corruption that poisons Karelia’s political system, exposing the failures of both regional governance and the central authorities in Moscow. He has brought to light the daily realities ordinary Karelians face: the crumbling infrastructure, the underfunded public services, the economic stagnation. He openly called for Karelia’s self-determination. For this courage, the system struck back. His name was dragged through the mud in orchestrated smear campaigns, his character systematically attacked in the media. He faced repeated harassment from local authorities, fines, and politically motivated arrests. His political stance and his insistence on exercising the fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and self-determination ultimately landed him not in a public forum, but in a psychiatric ward, a chilling reminder of Soviet-era tactics used to silence dissent.
These are not isolated cases. Across Karelia, and indeed across the entire Russian Federation, countless lesser-known voices are paying the price for simply speaking their minds. A social media post criticizing Moscow’s policies. A comment in defense of indigenous culture. A protest for fair treatment. These acts, which in any democratic society would be protected expressions of opinion, are treated in Russia as criminal offenses.
This is not just about political repression. It is about a systematic campaign to suffocate the truth, to dismantle civic space, and to instill fear in anyone who believes in freedom.
This is not just about political repression.
Russia remains a member of the United Nations and a signatory to the UN Charter. By that membership, it is bound to respect fundamental human rights—including the right to free speech, the right to criticize authority, and the right to demand better.
Russia remains a member of the United Nations and a signatory to the UN Charter.
But instead of honoring its commitments, the Russian Federation continues to weaponize the law to silence dissent and criminalize thought. It uses fear to govern, and punishment to erase the voices of those demanding change.
As a global community, we must not stay silent. Free expresion is not a privilege—it is a right. And in the Russian Federation, that right is under siege.
[Russian]
«Everyone has the right to freedom of thought».
«Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression».
«Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
These are not mere moral ideals. They are binding norms enshrined in the General Declaration of Human Rights. Norms that every country – member of the United Nations, including the Russian Federation, has pledged to respect and observe. But today these rights cut off at official and non-official borders of the Russian Federation. They cease to operate where people dare to speak the truth, seek justice and defend their human dignity, especially when it comes to the indigenous peoples of the territories that have become part of the Federation.
The Russian Federation, as the legal successor of the Soviet Union – one of the authors and supporters of the Universal Declaration – should seemingly have been in the forefront of human rights defenders. Instead, Russia has turned its back on that legacy. It is not just ignoring its obligations under international law – it is actively persecuting those who enjoy the very rights it once helped to enshrine.
Russia has turned its back on that legacy.
A cursory glance at the Republic of Karelia is enough to see this. Here, cultural and political activists await not discussion and dialogue, but prisons, psychiatric hospitals and state-sanctioned intimidation. While Russian officials sit at UN negotiating tables and lecture others about democracy, Karelians who speak the truth about their history, their rights and their future are censored, humiliated and effectively banished from public life.
Take, for example, Yuri Dmitriev – a respected and courageous historian who dedicated his life to uncovering the dark, deeply buried pages of Karelia's past. His mission was to show the world the horrors of Stalin's Great Terror, including through his work at Sandarmokh, where he led the excavation of mass graves of thousands of innocent victims of Soviet repression. Dmitriev became a voice of truth, a guardian of memory, a symbol of moral resistance in a state increasingly hostile to an honest view of its own history. He openly criticized the abuses and lawlessness of the Russian authorities, using his voice not only to recall the past, but also to warn against its repetition. But in a system that fears the truth, this made him dangerous. His steadfast commitment to preserving memory and fearless public speaking made him a target. The state responded in the usual way – with repression. Dmitriev was arrested on trumped-up charges, in an obvious attempt to destroy his reputation, silence him, and send an intimidating message to anyone who dared to speak out. His prosecution was not just a blow to historical memory. Ethere was a direct blow to the truth and to the right of every citizen to freely and democratically express his political views and beliefs.
Or let us remember Vladimir Zavarkin, an experienced Karelian politician and tireless public figure, who for many years refused to remain silent in the face of injustice. Year after year, Zavarkin has denounced the entrenched corruption eating away at Karelia's political system and exposed the failures of the regional authorities. He brought to light the problems that ordinary Karelians face on a daily basis: crumbling infrastructure, chronic underfunding of the social sphere, economic stagnation. He openly advocated for the right to self-determination of Karelia. For this courage the system struck a blow: his name was thrown in the mud in customized campaigns, systematic harassment was carried out in the media. He was repeatedly harassed by local authorities, fined, and arrested in politically motivated cases. As a result, his political stance and persistent defense of fundamental rights – freedom of speech and the right to self-determination – led not to a public tribune, but to a psychiatric hospital. It was a chilling reminder of Soviet methods of suppressing dissent. .
And these are not isolated stories at all. Throughout Karelia – and throughout the Federation – countless lesser-known people are paying the price for daring to speak their minds. A social media post criticizing Moscow politics. A comment in defense of indigenous culture. A rally for fair treatment. All of this – what in any democratic country would be a legitimate expression of position, – in Russia turns into a criminal offense.
This is not just political repression. This is a deliberate campaign to stifle truth, destroy civic space and sow fear in the hearts of those who believe in freedom.
Russiathe Russian Federation remains a member of the UN and a signatory to its Charter. That means it is obliged to respect fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of speech, the right to criticize the authorities and the right to demand a better future. But instead of fulfilling these obligations, the Russian Federation continues to use the law as a weapon to suppress dissent and criminalize thought. It rules by fear and erases from the public space the voices of those who demand change.
The global community must not stand idly by. Freedom of speech is not a privilege, but a right. And in Russia today, that right is under siege.Jana T.