Women's Rights in Wartime

After the start of the Russia's war on Ukraine, many journalists, lawyers, and feminists left the country over concerns about criminal prosecution for their anti-war stance. Meanwhile, the Russian government has poured significant resources into discrediting feminist ideas, international standards for combating gender-based violence, and the individuals who support them, according to independent publication Glasnaya.

Because of the exodus of human rights workers and feminists, there are now fewer independent nonprofits in Russia that offer help to survivors of domestic violence. Despite ongoing scrutiny, one of the few remaining organizations still providing legal and advocacy support is the Consortium of Women’s NGOs.

In June 2022, Russian State Duma member Andrei Lugovoi called for an investigation into whether the Consortium was a foreign agent serving the interests of Great Britain and promoting what he described as "LGBT values."

Consortium employee Sofia Rusova said activists and informers have repeatedly filed complaints about the organization with the Ministry of Justice and Roskomnadzor over the past three years, even attempting to block the group’s website. She noted that, although she has experienced more frequent online harassment, it has not stopped her from continuing her work. Rusova added that activists must now be especially cautious when discussing certain topics, explaining that conversations about sex education could be misperceived as LGBT propaganda.

Glasnaya noted that President Vladimir Putin has pardoned thousands of convicts who participated in the war, including those who committed serious offenses against women and girls. One Wagner Group fighter was previously sentenced to 17 years in prison for the murder of 23-year-old student and his former girlfriend Vera Pekhteleva. Lawyer Daria Gryaznova has argued that releasing such offenders reinforces the notion that violence is acceptable, which can lead to further tragedies and deny survivors access to justice. Legislative changes also allow individuals to sign a contract for military service with the Ministry of Defense before any investigation or trial concludes, effectively halting criminal prosecution.

The invasion of Ukraine ended Russians’ ability to seek international recourse as well. On March 16, 2022, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe and ceased to be a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, meaning its citizens no longer fall under European Court of Human Rights jurisdiction. Rusova pointed out that the ECHR had often provided crucial moral and material compensation for survivors when domestic legal avenues were exhausted. Shortly before Russia’s removal from the Council, Senator Andrei Klishas advised citizens to defend their rights in Russian courts, but human rights activist Mari Davtyan said these courts frequently require mediation even in cases of violence, although mediation is legally reserved only for civil proceedings.

Because Russian officials emphasize “traditional values,” domestic violence is widely regarded as a non-existent problem, Davtyan added. Regional crisis centers that receive large state grants reportedly focus on preserving marriages at any cost, leaving women responsible for issues such as low birth rates. Rusova said these programs rarely address the role men play, framing the problem as a relationship solely between a woman and the state.

Rusova expressed concern that the period of progress in human rights, which began after World War II, appears to have ended in Russia and, perhaps, in the wider world. However, she maintains that abandoning core values is not an option and hopes the movement’s efforts will endure the current pressures and ultimately flourish again.