Since the start of the full-scale war, the Russian authorities have publicly used transnational pressure against anti-war Russians outside the country at least 122 times, according to calculations by Novaya-Europe. The tally includes cases involving activists, journalists, rights defenders and deserters that were confirmed by media reports, lawyers, human rights groups and the people affected.
The article says the pattern is not limited to high-profile extraditions or abductions. More often, it takes quieter forms: 43 entry bans, 38 detentions followed by release, 15 residence permit cancellations, and prolonged periods in legal limbo. According to the outlet, the largest number of such episodes fell in 2023.
Among the recent examples is the case of 25-year-old IT specialist Alexander Kachkurkin. In January 2026, police in Almaty issued two administrative citations against him, after which he was expelled to Russia within hours and detained in Moscow in a treason case over money transfers to Ukraine.
Political and anti-war activists are targeted most often, accounting for 52 episodes. Journalists follow with 23 cases, while deserters and former security personnel account for 15 cases. Lawyer and Kovcheg founder Anastasia Burakova said deserters and former members of the security services are often especially vulnerable.
The highest number of known cases was recorded in Georgia (40), Armenia (21) and Kazakhstan (16), which together account for 63% of all documented episodes. In Georgia, entry refusals are common; in Serbia, pressure is often tied to migration status; and in Armenia, short-term detentions on Russian requests are frequent. The authors describe Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as the least safe locations, citing deportations, extradition attempts and forced removals.
The outlet also points to the role of international wanted-person mechanisms. According to an investigation by Disclose and BBC, as of September 2024 Russia had sent 4,817 notices through Interpol, more than any other country. Novaya-Europe adds that pressure abroad often combines formal procedures with informal methods such as surveillance, intimidation, intermediaries and covert transfers to the Russian side.
“In general, the Russian authorities are ‘economizing’ on repression,” Anastasia Burakova said, estimating that about 1,000 people abroad are defendants in politically motivated criminal cases.
The article concludes that abroad, persecution often appears not as dramatic extraditions or kidnappings, but as routine pressure through entry bans, document problems and months of legal uncertainty. Even so, it says, those measures are enough to keep people under constant strain and to deter public activity among emigrants.