Monthly Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Mari El and Mari people, Russian Federation.
Reporting Period: November 2025
Prepared by: Liza (the name is pseudonymized for safety reasons)
Executive Summary
This report presents three cases illustrating serious and interrelated governance, human rights, and corruption risks within several regions of the Russian Federation, with a particular concentration of concerns in the Mari El Republic and the broader Volga basin. The cases collectively highlight patterns of repression of civic expression, the erosion of safeguards against ill-treatment, systemic corruption in public administration, and the obstruction of public oversight in sectors critical to health, the environment, and public trust.
Together, these cases demonstrate the convergence of human-rights violations, environmental misconduct, and corruption risks in the context of weakening institutional checks and significantly reduced access to independent monitoring mechanisms. The report calls for urgent protective measures for individuals at risk, independent investigations into alleged abuses, strengthened transparency in procurement and environmental management, and reinforced anti
corruption and oversight systems at regional and federal levels.
Total number of violations: 37
Methodology
The findings presented in this report are based on open-source information including research conducted by independent experts and activists. Where possible, the report cross-references multiple sources to verify accuracy. Photos, documentation shared by local activists. The report does not claim to be exhaustive. It focuses specifically on three sets of incidents in October 2025 which illustrate systemic patterns of repression, neglect, and disregard for international standards.
Findings
Case 1: Possible Politically Motivated Persecution and Ill-Treatment
Name: withheld for security reasons
Location: Kirov, Russian Federation
Case description:
According to relatives and friends, the man, a Mari activist and author of oppositional poetry, had been publishing poems on Telegram expressing criticism of the Russian authorities, security structures, and the war of aggression against Ukraine. He shared his texts in large Ukrainian Telegram groups using a personal account linked to a Russian phone number.
According to these accounts, in August 2025 he was detained by officers of the Russian security services. He was later released, but under pressure. He reportedly stated that while in the custody of security personnel he was subjected to electric shocks that left no visible marks, and that he was threatened with criminal prosecution if he refused to confess. After this encounter, all contact with him ceased. His social media accounts became inactive, and his phone, SIM card, and computer were seized. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
Context:
In 2025, the Russian Federation denounced the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, effectively ending international monitoring mechanisms for places of detention inside the country. This significantly increases the risk of impunity for possible violations, including torture, and complicates efforts to determine the fate of detained individuals.
Possible Rights Violations
1. Violations under Russian domestic law
Constitution of the Russian Federation:
Art. 21(2) — prohibition of torture and cruel or degrading treatment.
Art. 22 — right to liberty and personal security; prohibition of arbitrary detention.
Art. 23 — right to privacy of correspondence and communications (seizure of devices, possible surveillance).
Art. 29 — freedom of thought, speech, and creative expression.
Art. 46 — right to judicial protection (possible lack of access to legal counsel).
Criminal Procedure Code (CPC):
Art. 9 — prohibition of violence, threats, and other unlawful methods.
Art. 49 — right to legal counsel from the moment of actual detention.
2. Violations of international obligations
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):
Art. 7 — absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment.
Art. 9 — prohibition of arbitrary arrest; right to be informed of the reasons for detention.
Art. 14 — right to a fair trial and legal defence.
Art. 19 — freedom of expression, including political expression.
Convention Against Torture (CAT):
Russia remains a State Party. The following may be implicated:
Art. 2 — obligation to prevent torture.
Art. 12 — obligation to conduct prompt and impartial investigations into allegations of torture. Art. 13 — right of individuals to complain about torture and receive protection.
UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance:
– The lack of information on his whereabouts and possible incommunicado detention may fall under the definition of an enforced disappearance.
Case 2: Systemic Mismanagement, Misreporting, and Possible Corruption in the Implementation of the “Volga Restoration” Environmental Program
Subject: systemic irregularities in regional implementation of a federal environmental program, obstruction of public oversight, manipulation of reporting data, and possible large-scale misuse of budgetary funds.
Location: Mari El Republic, Chuvashia, Yaroslavl Region, Nizhny Novgorod Region (Russian Federation)
Case description:
On 26 November 2025, regional media published a report summarizing strong public criticism from State Duma MP Zhanna Ryabtseva1, who highlighted extensive inconsistencies, mismanagement, and possible corruption within the implementation of the federal program “Restoration of the Volga”.
According to the information she made public, regional authorities presented manipulated data regarding the number and condition of wastewater treatment facilities. Officials claimed that 40 objects had been commissioned; however, detailed examination showed that only 28 were actual treatment plants, while the remaining structures were linear pipelines on which no sanitary measurements are performed, contrary to how the data were reported.
Ryabtseva emphasized that these distortions created a false appearance of progress while environmental degradation of the Volga basin continued. She provided region-specific examples:
• Chuvashia: problems identified at 3 treatment plants
• Mari El: problems at 6 facilities
• Nizhny Novgorod Region: 7 facilities
• Yaroslavl Region: 6 facilities
Particularly severe failures were documented in Mari El, where six facilities were equipped with supposedly advanced systems, yet could not function due to the absence of hot water in population centers. Without heating, essential biological filtration processes do not operate, making the installations effectively non-functional. The MP stated that only in Mari El the necessary corrective work would require ~2 billion rubles.
Ryabtseva’s parallel Telegram posts highlight further serious failures in the Yaroslavl Region:
• None of the treatment facilities built under the program operate at project level performance
• The region was forced to return 149 million rubles to the federal budget due to failed construction projects
• A wastewater collector costing 1.089 billion rubles, completed in 2021, has never been operational
• Several officials were arrested in 2024–2025, including the head of the regional Vodokanal (arrested March 2025) and a department head (August 2025)
• Newly built treatment facilities may be entirely demolished and rebuilt from scratch due to unfixable construction defects2
These findings collectively point to a pattern of misrepresentation of data, severe technical failures, misuse of funds, obstruction of environmental oversight, and lack of accountability from responsible officials.
Likely Violations of Russian Law
1. Budget and anti-corruption legislation
• Art. 285, 286 Criminal Code (CC RF) – abuse of official authority
• Art. 289 CC RF – unlawful participation in entrepreneurial activity (if procurement schemes involved conflicts of interest)
• Art. 290–291 CC RF – bribery (potentially implicated given arrests and failed facilities)
• Art. 159 CC RF – fraud involving state funds
• Budget Code RF – improper use of targeted federal funds; failure of financial discipline
2. Environmental legislation
• Federal Law “On Environmental Protection” – failure to ensure functioning wastewater treatment; falsification of environmental reporting
• Federal Law “On Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being” – non-compliance with sanitary standards and monitoring requirements
• Water Code RF – pollution and insufficient treatment of wastewater before discharge into the Volga basin
3. Rights of citizens to information and participation
• Art. 42 Constitution RF – right to reliable information about the environment
• Art. 29 Constitution RF – right to receive information; manipulation of official environmental statistics interferes with this right
• Federal Law “On Access to Information on Activities of State Bodies” – distortion of reporting constitutes unlawful limitation of public access to accurate state data
Likely Violations of International Law
1. Aarhus Convention (access to information and public participation in environmental matters). Russia signed but did not ratify the convention; however, many of its principles are binding through:
• customary international environmental law
• OSCE commitments
• human-rights-based environmental standards
Violations include:
• obstruction of access to reliable environmental information
• preventing meaningful public participation
• lack of transparency in environmental decision-making
2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
• Art. 19 – right to seek and receive information; manipulation of environmental data restricts this right
• Art. 25 – participation in public affairs; corruption and falsification undermine democratic oversight
3. UN General Assembly Resolution on the Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment (2022). The systemic failure of wastewater treatment undermines internationally recognized environmental rights.
4. UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Russia is a full State Party. Likely violations:
• Art. 5–9 – failure to ensure transparent and accountable public administration
• Art. 10 – lack of transparency in public finances
• Art. 12–13 – absence of public oversight and access to information
• Art. 15–19 – abuse of office, misappropriation, and corruption in public procurement and infrastructure development
Case 3. Alleged Collusion in University and Public-Sector Food Supply Tenders (Mari El Republic, Russian Federation)
Sector: Public procurement – food supply for educational and healthcare institutions
Location: Yoshkar-Ola (administrative center of the Republic of Mari El), including procurement processes involving Mari State University and regional educational and healthcare institutions
Case description
Since 2021, tenders for food supplies to the Mari State University cafeteria, as well as various hospitals, kindergartens and schools in the region, have been repeatedly awarded to the same six companies: Vesta, Foodtorg, Ovoshchtorg, Agroprodukt, KP Detskiy, and PK Agromir.
In November, the monitoring group Lupa published an investigation developed with the analytical tool Tenderscope, identifying recurring indicators of potentially coordinated tender manipulation among these firms3.
Following civil-society complaints, the regional office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) opened a case concerning possible cartel activity. The proceedings were discontinued in January 2025 due to an alleged lack of sufficient evidence.
The investigation documented several patterns commonly associated with collusive procurement practices:
1. Minimal price reduction:
Average decrease during competitive bidding was under 1%, whereas the presence of outside bidders produced reductions of up to 40%.
2. Highly synchronized tender submissions:
Applications were filed within minutes of one another.
3. Shared contact information:
Overlapping phone numbers and email addresses across supposedly independent companies.
4. Connected ownership structures: At least three companies were linked by family relationships to entrepreneur Farid Bek-Bulатов. Ownership changes occurred during the investigation period, with one individual later added to the national register of disqualified persons.
The findings suggest the possible existence of a coordinated structure aimed at maintaining control over regional food-supply procurement through artificial competition.
Actions by National Authorities
• The Mari El regional FAS initiated an administrative case on suspected collusion following civil society complaints.
• In January 2025, the case was closed due to insufficient proof under existing evidentiary standards.
• Authorities stated that shared contact details resulted from “registry entry errors” and that metadata did not conclusively demonstrate coordinated infrastructure.
• Changes in company ownership occurred during review, and one individual involved was subsequently listed as disqualified under national regulations.
Potential International Legal Implications
1. UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)
The situation may indicate shortcomings in compliance with state obligations under:
• Article 9: Ensuring transparency, competition, and objective criteria in public procurement. • Articles 5 & 7: Preventive measures aimed at strengthening public administration integrity.
• Article 12: Preventing corruption within the private sector, including practices that undermine fair competition.
2. OECD Guidelines for Fighting Bid Rigging in Public Procurement
While not binding, the documented patterns align with behaviors defined in OECD guidance as indicators of bid rigging and collusion (4).
Potentially Applicable Domestic Legislation
1. Federal Law No. 135-FZ “On Protection of Competition”.
Possible infringements include: • Article 11(1): Prohibited agreements restricting competition (cartels), including market allocation, price fixing, and coordinated tender participation.
2. Federal Law No. 44-FZ (Public Procurement). Potential relevance of:
• Article 7: Anti-corruption obligations in procurement processes.
• Article 29: Accuracy and integrity of data submitted by bidders.
3. Code of Administrative Offenses
• Article 14.32: Responsibility for engaging in restrictive agreements.
• Article 7.32: Procurement violations by participants.
4. Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. If intent and material impact are established, relevant provisions may include:
• Article 178: Illegal restriction of competition.
• Article 159: Fraud involving procurement schemes.
• Articles 285–286: Abuse or excess of authority if public officials played a facilitating role.
This investigation highlights structural risks in procurement integrity within the region. The recurrent indicators of synchronized bidding, overlapping contact information, and family-linked ownership are consistent with known patterns of collusive tender manipulation.
The closure of administrative proceedings despite these indicators suggests systemic challenges in enforcement capacity, documentation standards, and detection of concealed coordination. Strengthened analytical monitoring, data transparency, and oversight independence remain crucial to mitigating procurement distortions.
1 https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8138760
2 https://t.me/ryabseva_zhanna/2035
3 https://t.me/MunKontr_Media/77
Recommendations
1. Ensure Immediate Protection of Individuals at Risk
• Urgently clarify the whereabouts and legal status of persons subjected to incommunicado detention or disappearance.
• Guarantee unhindered access to legal counsel, independent medical examination, and communication with family members.
• Implement safeguards against torture and ill-treatment, including prompt registration of all detentions and independent monitoring of places of custody.
2. Conduct Prompt, Impartial, and Independent Investigation
• Initiate investigations into alleged torture, politically motivated detention, enforced disappearance, and procedural violations.
• Mandate external reviews of environmental program management, procurement processes, and reported irregularities, including potential collusion among state institutions and contractors.
• Ensure investigative bodies are structurally independent from implicated regional authorities, security services, or procurement entities.
3. Strengthen Transparency and Public Access to Information
• Restore reliable channels for public reporting on detentions, environmental conditions, and procurement decisions.
• Publish verifiable data regarding wastewater facilities, project performance, and use of federal funds under the “Restoration of the Volga” program.
• Require all procurement decisions—including technical justifications, contract amendments, ownership structures, and delivery records—to be publicly accessible.
4. Guarantee Accountability and Prevent Impunity
• Suspend officials or law-enforcement personnel credibly implicated in abuse, falsification of data, procurement manipulation, or obstruction of oversight.
• Pursue administrative, disciplinary, or criminal actions where evidence supports violations of domestic law or international commitments.
• Strengthen oversight over regional branches of federal bodies (including FAS, Vodokanal structures, environmental agencies, and investigative units) to prevent conflicts of interest and collusive practices.
5. Reinforce Anti-Corruption Safeguards in Public Procurement and Environmental Programs
• Conduct forensic audits of procurement chains in Mari El and other Volga basin regions, with a focus on pricing, subcontracting, and performance compliance.
• Implement mandatory integrity checks for suppliers of public food contracts and operators of wastewater facilities.
• Require independent technical assessments of all infrastructure facilities before they are reported as completed or operational.
6. Enhance Public Participation and Civil Society Oversight
• Facilitate access for community monitors, environmental experts, and human-rights defenders to project sites, procurement data, and environmental reports.
• Protect individuals and civil groups who report corruption, environmental risks, or abuses by state actors from retaliation.
• Establish participatory mechanisms enabling residents, local NGOs, and independent specialists to review environmental impacts and procurement outcomes.
7. Improve Compliance With Environmental and Human-Rights Standards
• Ensure wastewater treatment plants meet sanitary, biological, and engineering standards before being commissioned.
• Address structural defects in existing facilities and allocate funds for necessary corrective work while transparently reporting expenditures.
• Adopt measures ensuring that the handling of detainees, activists, or journalists complies with Russia’s obligations under the ICCPR and CAT, and with non-derogable norms of international human rights law.
8. Strengthen Institutional Capacity and Oversight Mechanisms
• Provide regional authorities and regulatory bodies with technical and financial resources for effective monitoring, including digital traceability of procurement steps and environmental data.
• Establish routine cross-regional performance reviews for programs supported by federal funds, particularly where systemic failure has been identified.
• Develop preventive frameworks within security, procurement, and environmental agencies to reduce opportunities for abuse, data manipulation, or coercive practices.