3. Human rights defenders under pressure
Conditions for human rights defenders and civil society organisations deteriorated further in 2025. In an increasing number of countries, many have been criminalised and designated as “foreign agents” or “extremists”. The NHC remained a consistent advocate for promoting stronger protection mechanisms, broader civic space, and improved working conditions for human rights defenders.
The United States’ withdrawal from key international organisations and agreements, combined with sharp reductions in funding for human rights work—including budget cuts, shifting priorities, and the closure of important NGOs—had severe consequences. The most vulnerable groups were hit hardest, including many of NHC’s partners.
Across several regions where the NHC operates, human rights defenders, civil society organisations, journalists, and protesters face escalating threats to their safety, as well as risks to their families and colleagues. In February 2025, the European Commission announced a landmark commitment to develop a comprehensive strategy to support and strengthen civil society in Europe. We contributed to this development as an expert partner in the Reclaim Our Civil Space project, led by the Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation Ökotárs in cooperation with partners across Central and Eastern Europe.
Marking 50 years since the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, 2025 underscored the essential role of independent civil society organisations in safeguarding democratic values amid hybrid warfare, rising populism, and declining public trust. The NHC continued its long-term work to strengthen the capacity of our partners operating in hostile and authoritarian contexts shaped by Russia’s ongoing full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
Stopped extradition to Russia
In two landmark decisions in autumn 2025, the NHC partner, the Armenian human rights organisation the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor (HCAV), succeeded in halting deportation for two persons who were requested for extradition by Russia and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). Armenian authorities accepted HCAV lawyer Ani Chatinyan's arguments that the DNR is not a recognised entity and is not a party to any relevant extradition conventions. No DNR court decision would hold any legal force, and if extradited, the persons would risk human rights violations. Armenia applied the principle of non-refoulement, including the prohibition on returning persons to the Russian Federation, and released the persons from temporary detention.
In summer 2025, Russian authorities designated the NHC an “undesirable organisation,” a status that carries serious criminal penalties for anyone in Russia cooperating with us. As a result, NHC was forced to suspend all partnerships in the country. However, human rights defenders and lawyers in Russia continue to challenge unjust judicial practices, provide legal support, disseminate independent information, run shelters, visit political prisoners, advocate for their release, and strengthen cross-border civil society networks. Despite the challenges, the NHC remains focused and continues our work.
Repression of civil society organisations and activists cooperating across borders intensified, accompanied by the spread of “foreign agent” and “anti-LGBT propaganda” legislation in Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Despite increasing pressure, our partners continued their work, adapting to the restrictive environment and upholding fundamental human rights principles.
Although NHC staff cannot travel to Russia or Turkmenistan, we maintained engagement through international networks, including the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the Civic Solidarity Platform (CSP). These platforms allowed us to strengthen coordination and reinforce civil society efforts on the ground.
Working in increasingly hostile environments, human rights defenders sometimes need the option to leave in a hurry. Even though Norway promotes the protection of defenders internationally, most experience refusals when applying for long-term visas. The NHC continues to advocate for human rights defenders' access to visas with the Norwegian and European governments. We engage with decision-makers and contribute to establishing international platforms that enable defenders to highlight their work and the risks they face.
Despite repeated dialogue with Norwegian authorities—both bilaterally and within a Norwegian NGO network—they maintain a restrictive visa policy for human rights defenders. Requirements typically associated with tourist visas remain unattainable for many defenders, particularly in Russia, where activists labelled as foreign agents or extremists are prevented from receiving formal income.
LGBTIQ+ activists face even greater obstacles. While Norwegian authorities cite EU restrictions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, these measures explicitly exclude civil society groups, dissidents, and human rights activists. Several European states, including Germany, France, and the Czech Republic, continue to issue long-term visas to such individuals.
The NHC issued a policy paper on the issue and contributed to Amnesty International reporting on the issue.
Advocates for Change – Civil Society Support for Türkiye
As civic space narrows and rights protections weaken in Türkiye, this project strengthened local human rights work. It supported eight partners engaged in human rights education, peer counselling networks, eco-feminist advocacy, youth filmmaking, and community-based initiatives, thereby enhancing capacity, broadening networks, and amplifying marginalised voices.
Partners addressed a wide range of issues across the country:
- In the Marmara region, ARMAŞ and the Prosumer Economy Society linked environmental and feminist activism through campaigns reaching tens of thousands.
- In South-Eastern Türkiye, AYHED expanded documentation, monitoring, and strategic litigation, establishing a network of more than 100 human rights defenders.
- In Eastern Türkiye, DISA supported young women peacebuilders working within the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas.
- LGBTIQ+ communities and other marginalised groups were strengthened. Free Colours and Muamma LGBTI+ developed inclusive counselling structures and a national trans+ peer-support model. Other partners documented rights violations affecting Dom, Abdal, and Roma communities, empowered youth through filmmaking, and strengthened women’s networks linking rural voices to local institutions.
Overall, the project demonstrated that with trust, targeted support, and sustained collaboration, local communities can build resilience and continue defending human rights, even in restrictive environments.
Significant efforts to raise awareness
Throughout 2025, NHC engaged in high-level advocacy with European and international institutions to emphasise the worsening human rights situation in Georgia. This included meetings with the Council of Europe, OSCE representatives, and key human rights organisations. At the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Meeting, NHC organised two side events on “foreign agents” legislation and political prisoners and called for stronger accountability mechanisms, including activation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism (a tool allowing participating states to send expert missions to investigate specific human rights violations, threats to democracy, etc.), which was triggered in February 2026. Our supported projects also contributed to Georgia’s Fourth Universal Periodic Review process, to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The NHC contributed to the publication The Forbidden Times—a project supported by the Norwegian company Reitan Retail, Narvesen, and the Nobel Peace Centre for World Press Freedom Day—which was later nominated for the Epica Awards, an award presented by journalists working for marketing and communications magazines around the world.
In the marking of the anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, we invited partners and representatives from Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Russia, and Serbia, as well as from the OSCE and EPDE. The events underscored both the critical role of civil society organisations and the shortcomings of the international system in protecting human rights and security.
Our annual Anna Politkovskaya Forum in October was organised in cooperation with the Arctic University of Norway. Journalists from Ukraine, Russia, and the Norwegian online newspaper, Barents Observer, shared insights on war reporting, documenting Russian atrocities, and countering propaganda and disinformation. Lana Estemirova, the daughter of human rights defender Natalia Estemirova and a close friend of Anna Politkovskaya, presented reflections from her new book, Please, Live, on her mother’s persistent efforts to document war crimes and grave violations during the second armed conflict in Chechnya (1999-2009).
Supported by the Nordic Council, NHC organised a series of meetings that brought together Russian politicians in exile, journalists, activists, experts, and Norwegian stakeholders, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliament, and the Norwegian Foundation for Investigative Journalism (SKUP). The project aimed to exchange expertise, bolster democratic norms undermined in Russia, and prepare for regional post-war transformations.
Despite increasing repression, our colleagues and partners continue to stand firm in defending international human rights norms. Their efforts need—and merit—ongoing international attention, solidarity, and support.