2.4.1. Expansion of anti-extremism and anti-terrorism legislation
In June 2024, the Supreme Court of Russia declared the ‘Anti-Russian Separatist Movement’ an extremist organisation,227 following a similar ruling of November 2023 regarding ‘the international LGBT movement,’228 even though neither organisation exists in Russia.229 As noted by researchers Stefan Ingvarsson and Ekaterina Kalinina, because these designations do not correspond to any real movement or organisation, the interpretation ‘is entirely arbitrary’, creating uncertainty for LGBTIQ-related initiatives and Russia’s nearly 200 ethnic groups amid unpredictable enforcement.230 As reported by Novaya Gazeta – Europe, it could also apply to anyone denying that Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.231 No information on prosecutions under the ‘Anti-Russian Separatist Movement’ extremist designation was found within the timeframes of this report. For information on the impact of the legislation on the LGBTIQ community, see chapter 3.7 LGBTIQ persons.
In December 2024, the authorities expanded the criteria for adding individuals and organisations to the list of extremists, extending it to cases involving ‘fake news’ and actions ‘discrediting’ the army when they were considered to be ‘motivated by hatred.’232 In July 2025,233 Alexey Navalny’s posthumous memoir was added to the federal list of extremist materials after a linguistic expertise ordered by a court found that it contained extremist content intended to incite hatred toward the Russian government.234
On 31 July 2025, President Putin signed a law to punish online searches for content officially deemed extremist235 (Article 13.53 of the Code of Administrative Offences) by fines of up to 5 000 rubles [51 euros].236 The law has further tightened state censorship237 and control of the internet.238 Sources noted that the scope of content that could be punished was extensive239 due to the broad definition of extremist activity.240
As of July 2025, the list of extremist materials maintained by the MoJ comprised over 5 400 entries.241 While the law reportedly intends to target people who ‘knowingly search’ for extremist content,242 and officials have clarified that law enforcement would need to establish intent in such searches,243 sources noted that it was unclear how authorities would determine whether someone accessed content intentionally.244 The law came into force on 1 September 2025.245 In early November 2025, media sources reported that the first case under this law was initiated against a 20-year old man in Sverdlovsk region,246 after the internet provider informed the FSB that he had viewed content about Ukraine’s Azov Brigade and the Russian Volunteer Corps, both considered ‘terrorist’ organisations by the Russian authorities.247
In October 2025, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office applied to the Supreme Court to declare the US-based legal branch of Alexei Navalny’s-established the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF, Russian: Fond borby s korryptsiyey, FBK) – the legal successor of Russia-based FBK248 – a terrorist organisation. The hearing is scheduled for 27 November 2025 and will be held behind closed doors,249 presided over by the same judge who previously designated the non-existent ‘international LGBT movement’ and ‘international satanism movement’ as extremist organisations.250 The ACF has been listed as an extremist organisation’ since 2021.251 As noted by AI, the designation of the ACF as a terrorist organisation ‘would expose anyone associated with the ACF to criminal prosecution with the harshest penalties, including up to life in prison’.252
As reported by Meduza in October 2025, the list of individuals designated as terrorists and extremists is ‘expanding almost faster’ than the list of ‘foreign agents.’253 As noted by OVD-Info, the authorities have introduced a simplified mechanism for adding people to the extremist list and designating organisations as extremist, which creates additional difficulties for Russian nationals abroad, such as ‘potential denial of banking services.’254
As further noted by Meduza, legal experts describe inclusion on these lists as a form of ‘civil death’ due to the severe financial and social restrictions such a designation brings. While the designation often hinders future employment, the most significant impact is financial:255 the persons included on the list of extremists and terrorists have their bank accounts blocked for incoming transfers, while their monthly withdrawals are limited to 10 000 rubles [102 euros] to cover personal needs.256 In practice, the accounts of their relatives may be also blocked.257 As noted by a human rights lawyer, restrictions in the access to banking and other services due to the inclusion to the list of terrorists and extremists are also faced by those living abroad. In addition, the Russian authorities use this list to ask for their extradition.258
- 227
UN Human Rights Council, Situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova,15 September 2025, url, para. 89
- 228
HRW, Russia: Supreme Court Bans “LGBT Movement” as “Extremist”, 30 November 2023, url
- 229
Novaya Gazeta Europe, Russia bans non-existent ‘anti-Russian separatist movement’, 7 June 2024, url
- 230
Ingvarsson, S. and Kalinina E., Is Civil Society Still Alive in Russia, SCEEUS Report, No. 12, 2024, 20 September 2024, url, p. 4
- 231
Novaya Gazeta Europe, Russia bans non-existent ‘anti-Russian separatist movement’, 7 June 2024, url
- 232
UN Human Rights Council, Situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova,15 September 2025, url, para. 89
- 233
Meduza, Russia adds Navalny’s posthumous memoir to list of banned ‘extremist’ materials, 30 July 2025, url
- 234
Mediazona, Blacklisted. Alexei Navalny’s memoir “Patriot” banned in Russia as “extremist” for inciting “hatred towards authorities”, 1 August 2025, url
- 235
AP, Putin signs a bill punishing online searches for information deemed ‘extremist’, 31 July 2025, url
- 236
Reuters, Russia passes law punishing searches for ‘extremist’ content, 22 July 2025, url; Russia, Кодекс Российской Федерации об административных правонарушениях, от 30.12.2001 N 195-ФЗ (с изм. и доп., вступ. в силу с 22.10.2025) ["Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation, of 30.12.2001 No 195 -FZ (with amendments and additions, effective from 22.10.2025), 2025, url, Art. 20.3.3
- 237
Reuters, Russia passes law punishing searches for ‘extremist’ content, 22 July 2025, url
- 238
AP, Putin signs a bill punishing online searches for information deemed ‘extremist’, 31 July 2025, url
- 239
AP, How Russia reins in the internet by blocking websites and isolating it from the rest of the world, 5 August 2025, url
- 240
AP, Putin signs a bill punishing online searches for information deemed ‘extremist’, 31 July 2025, url
- 241
CPJ, Russia gearing up to prosecute internet users for searching ‘extremist content’, 18 July 2025, url; Euronews, New Russian law criminalises searching for online content deemed extremist, 22 July 2025, url
- 242
Euronews, New Russian law criminalises searching for online content deemed extremist, 22 July 2025, url
- 243
Reuters, Russia passes law punishing searches for ‘extremist’ content, 22 July 2025, url
- 244
Reuters, Russia passes law punishing searches for ‘extremist’ content, 22 July 2025, url; AP, Putin signs a bill punishing online searches for information deemed ‘extremist’, 31 July 2025, url
- 245
Moscow Times (The), Russia Opens First Case Under Law Punishing Online Searches for 'Extremist' Content, 6 November 2025, url
- 246
Moscow Times (The), Russia Opens First Case Under Law Punishing Online Searches for 'Extremist' Content, 6 November 2025, url; Reuters, Russia opens first known investigation into online searches for 'extremist' material, 7 November 2025, url, accessed 12 November 2025
- 247
Moscow Times (The), Russia Opens First Case Under Law Punishing Online Searches for 'Extremist' Content, 6 November 2025, url; Novaya Gazeta Europe, Russia’s first known prosecution for viewing ‘extremist’ material online gets underway in Sverdlovsk region, 7 November 2025, url
- 248
AI, Russia: Move to label Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation a “terrorist organization” puts thousands in danger, 23 October 2025, url
- 249
Novaya Gazeta Europe, Russia demands Navalny’s American anti-corruption entity be deemed ‘terrorist organisation’, 23 October 2025, url; AI, Russia: Move to label Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation a “terrorist organization” puts thousands in danger, 23 October 2025, url
- 250
AI, Russia: Move to label Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation a “terrorist organization” puts thousands in danger, 23 October 2025, url
- 251
Novaya Gazeta Europe, Russia demands Navalny’s American anti-corruption entity be deemed ‘terrorist organisation’, 23 October 2025, url
- 252
AI, Russia: Move to label Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation a “terrorist organization” puts thousands in danger, 23 October 2025, url
- 253
Meduza: Explainers: Russia’s ‘terrorists and extremists’ list is now sweeping up journalists and academics. Soon, Navalny donors could face life in prison, 23 October 2025, url
- 254
OVD-Info, Online interview with EUAA, 21 October 2025
- 255
Meduza, Russia expands money laundering statutes to enable broader political repressions against anti-Kremlin speech and fundraising, 13 December 2024, url
- 256
Meduza, Russia expands money laundering statutes to enable broader political repressions against anti-Kremlin speech and fundraising, 13 December 2024, url; Meduza: Explainers: Russia’s ‘terrorists and extremists’ list is now sweeping up journalists and academics. Soon, Navalny donors could face life in prison, 23 October 2025, url
- 257
Meduza, Russia expands money laundering statutes to enable broader political repressions against anti-Kremlin speech and fundraising, 13 December 2024, url
- 258
Human rights lawyer, Online interview with EUAA, 23 October 2025