Human Rights House Foundation

Today marks four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In the interview for HRHF, Kateryna Rashevska compares entering the fifth year of full-scale war with looking into darkness. What does it mean for #Ukraine and the world?

Read in full: bit.ly/40jRVuv

As #Ukraine approaches significant anniversaries: 4 years of #Russia’s full-scale invasion and 12 years of resistance to the occupation of #Crimea — HRD Kateryna Rashevska reflects on why justice, not just ceasefire, will determine the region’s future.

Read the interview: bit.ly/40jRVuv

"As a result, many people are afraid to seek help from us, even when their rights are being violated."

Full interview with a human rights defender from #Russia: bit.ly/4nD6piu

We call on Azerbaijan to immediately & unconditionally release journalists Ulviyya Guliyeva & Aysel Umudova, drop all politically motivated charges, end judicial harassment of critics, ensure independent medical care, and conduct impartial investigations.

Full: humanrightshouse.org/statements/a...

HRHF welcomes today’s action by 24 #OSCE participating States to invoke an independent human rights mechanism to report on the #GeorgianDream government’s systematic attacks on human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Read the statement: bit.ly/3Mdz94E

#Georgia

We are delighted to have welcomed our colleague Ales Bialiatski to our Oslo office to discuss the human rights situation in Belarus and to reconnect after his spending more than four and a half years as a political prisoner in Belarus. @freeviasna.org

Today, the trial of Anar Mammadli resumed in Azerbaijan. Mammadli has been unjustly detained since 29 Apr 2024, in retaliation for his legitimate #humanrights work. This is his second time as a political prisoner. HRHF continues to call for his immediate & unconditional release.

Valiantsin Stefanovich has been behind bars for four and a half years. He was detained on 14 July 2021 alongside Ales Bialiatski & Uladzimir Labkovich, who were both released on 13 December 2025. We repeat our call for his release and all political prisoners in #Belarus. @freeviasna.org

YouTube video by Human Rights House Foundation HRHF statement at UN Human Rights Council

During an interactive dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on his quarterly report on Ukraine, HRHF underscored Russia’s occupation of Crimea as marked by widespread abuses, eroding prospects for peace, reconciliation and global security. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIzQ...

This weekend, 123 people were pardoned in #Belarus incl. our colleagues Ales Bialiatski & Uladzimir Labkovich. HRHF continues to call for justice for them, and for the release of 1100+ political prisoners that remain behind bars. spring96.org/en/news/119271

We are saddened by the passing of Laila Bokhari. Since joining HRHF’s board in 2019, Laila brought years of expertise and principled guidance. A distinguished political scientist, diplomat, and politician, she devoted decades to human rights. Our condolences to her family.

Celebrating #HumanRightsDay2025 with great news: our colleague Lela Tsiskarishvili received the 2026 French-German Human Rights Award. Well-deserved recognition of her years of dedication to supporting victims of torture and promoting human rights.

In Crimea, people vanish — taken by Russia’s security services, held in secret, often tortured, and later reappear as defendants in fabricated trials.

Learn details in HRHF’s latest interview with a Crimean HRD on enforced disappearances bit.ly/4rFNVRz

🔗 Coming soon: HRHF interview on enforced disappearances and incommunicado detentions in Crimea with a HRD from
Crimean Process / Human Rights House Crimea.

Photo: Pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Simferopol, Crimea / RFE/RL

#Crimea #HumanRights #Ukraine #Russia

“Organisations not yet targeted by the Georgian government’s ‘foreign agents’ law are forced to prepare for its impact. For those who are, their work has been frozen—or ended.”

Full: bit.ly/43o9ATM

“Most [letters] don’t get through – they’re filtered. It’s almost impossible to convey solidarity directly. [But] writing still matters.” – Andrei Chapiuk on how people can support Belarusian political prisoners today. @freeviasna.org

bit.ly/4nOFNfv

HRHF søker en engasjert og strategisk kommunikasjonsleder som skal løfte organisasjonens kommunikasjon og synlighet - nasjonalt og internasjonalt.

🗓️ Søknadsfrist: 16. desember 2025.
👉 Søk nå hodejegerne.recman.page/job/456863

💔 #FreeViasna: Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Uladzimir Labkovich have been imprisoned for 4 years and 4 months

These prominent human rights defenders continue to serve long, politically motivated sentences simply for their work with Viasna.

🔗 freeviasna.org

In 2025, working as a #humanrights defender in Russia means living under constant pressure from the state.

Find out more about life for those defending rights in the country today: bit.ly/4nD6piu

Despite growing international attention, concerns over #Serbia’s human rights situation are deepening, and civil society warns about escalating repression.

Read the interview marking one year since Novi Sad railway canopy collapse and ensuing student protests: bit.ly/47CWGnK

@yucom.bsky.social

“Civil society and human rights defenders are immensely important for the Council of Europe. Progress in human rights and democracy could never happen without them.” - Amb. Vebjørn Heines 🇳🇴

Read more: bit.ly/4n2dRTR

@coe.int @norwaycoe.norway.no & Swiss FDFA

«Norge liker å kalle seg en forkjemper for menneskerettigheter… Da må vi også åpne dørene for dem som faktisk kjemper for disse rettighetene der de er under press.»

panoramanyheter.no/amnesty-menneskerettigheter-visumfrihet/vi-stenger-doren-for-dem-som-forsvarer-menneskerettighetene/406702

“There’s a quiet form of intimidation happening that we think is being overlooked because it perhaps looks ‘less harsh’. People are increasingly called for informal meetings in public places.”

Full interview with Azerbaijani #humanrights defenders bit.ly/4ppEp40

Next week, Belarus' #humanrights record will be examined as part of the UN Universal Periodic Review. In August, HRHF supported representatives of Belarusian civil society to present an overview of violations and recommendations to states ahead of the UPR.

More humanrightshouse.org/impact/un-ad...

It has been one and a half years since Anar Mammadli was detained in #Azerbaijan as reprisal for his election observation and #humanrights work. His detention is part of a worsening human rights situation in the country, marked by politically-motivated detentions.

“Organisations not yet targeted by the Georgian government’s ‘foreign agents’ law are forced to prepare for its impact. For those who are, their work has been frozen—or ended.”

Read in full 👉 bit.ly/43o9ATM

“[Azerbaijanis] deserve to speak freely, to demand basic rights, to say on television: ‘I don’t agree with this policy’. That’s why we started. And that’s what keeps us going.”

Full interview with Azerbaijani #humanrights defenders bit.ly/4ppEp40

Belarusian #humanrights defender and political prisoner Uladzimir Labkovich turns 47 today.

He should be celebrating with friends and family, but instead, he is behind bars as a reprisal for his legitimate human rights work.

#FreeViasna #FreeThemAll #WeStandBYyou

YouTube video by Human Rights House Foundation 2025 Advocacy Training Programme

Learn how HRHF’s 2025 Advocacy Training Programme for the Network of #HumanRightsHouses helped turn learning into action at the the Council of Europe 👉
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bWo...

The Programme is implemented with support from @coe.int, @norwaycoe.norway.no & Swiss FDFA

#HRHsInStrasbourg

"As we see in Belarus and Russia, the totality of these new or expanded laws and subsequent investigations has a chilling effect on civil society and anyone brave enough to express dissent."

Full 👉 bit.ly/43o9ATM