News By: Yara Khair
“Kobalia and Others v. Russia” is a group of 107 applicants who argue that the Russian government has imposed such severe restrictions on NGOs and individuals it has designated as foreign agents that these restrictions violate their rights to freedom of expression.
In a decision by the European Court of Human Rights in a case concerning restrictions on the rights of Russian NGOs, media organizations and individuals designated as “foreign agents”, the Court ruled that Russian law and restrictions thereon violate the rights to freedom of expression and privacy of NGOs and individuals. These violations by major countries aim to suppress criticism of government decisions, most notably the governments of Georgia and Turkey.
Among the most prominent recommendations on which the court based its decision:
Most restrictions issued by governments prevent NGOs, human rights defenders, and all civil society actors and groups from confronting state decisions and challenging its authorities on various issues that may be inconsistent with the interests of civil society and its aspirations to achieve the best for humanity.
The court considered that these restrictions justified unjustified interference with the rights of individuals and harmed the public interest.
Publicly recording individuals’ names also prevents them from effectively performing their duties and deprives them of their basic right to participate in public logging.
The court’s decision in this case did not harm civil society, but on the contrary, it represented a decisive victory for Russian NGOs, the media, and all individuals, as these restrictions controlled freedom of expression and the right to form associations. The ruling issued in 2024 confirmed that Russian legislation and procedures violate basic human rights. The law was created with the aim of protecting those who have struggled and are still struggling to limit the repressive measures issued by authorities who do not care about the interests of society but rather about the rule of oppression and control.
This decision also has great significance beyond Russia’s borders, especially for countries considering implementing similar laws regarding “foreign agents,” as it serves as an example of how countries can limit these repressive practices against individuals, hoping that this law will contribute to reviewing all existing legislation in line with international human rights standards which all countries must implement in order to maintain international peace and security and enhance respect for human rights and freedoms.
