On 21 September 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, addressed the UN Human Rights Council on behalf of the Baltic and Nordic countries, emphasising that Russia’s repression does not stop at its borders.
“Anti-war voices, political opponents, journalists, human rights defenders are silenced, imprisoned or forced into exile. Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees are tortured, ill-treated and executed. In the occupied territories of Ukraine, Russia continues to suppress fundamental freedoms, persecute those opposing the occupation, indoctrinate and militarise Ukrainian children, and unlawfully deport and forcibly transfer them.
The repressions do not stop at Russia’s borders. Recent legislative measures impose wide-ranging restrictions on exiles, escalating repression at home and transnational repression abroad,” Baiba Braže emphasised in her address.
The Minister noted: “Russia also seeks to destabilise democratic societies through information manipulation, interference in democratic processes and thus abuses the very human rights principles it perpetuates to defend, but systematically violates at home.”
Calling on Russia to end discrimination and repression and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, the Minister stated: “The judgements of the European Court of Human Rights have laid bare the scale and gravity of human rights violations by Russia and in Russia. Russia must comply with these judgements.”
Background information
- The statement, delivered on behalf of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, was broadcast via video during the interactive dialogue with Mariana Katzarova, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
- The 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7 September to 7 October 2026.
