Monthly Report on Human Rights Violations in the Republic of Karelia, Russian Federation

Karelian human rights defender Yana

October 2025

Executive Summary

This report recent addresses developments in the Republic of Karelia, Russian Federation, in the month of October 2025. It highlights four key areas of concern: the failure to conduct proper investigations and provide legal remedies following acts of vandalism against Karelian cultural heritage site in Haikola, threats to indigenous-language media and cultural autonomy at the State publishing house Periodika, disruption of essential services in remote villages, and arbitrary arrests raising serious due process concerns under Articles 275 and 281 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The documented incidents reveal a consistent pattern of violations of cultural, social, and civil rights, including the failure to provide effective remedies, disregard for the protection of indigenous heritage language, insufficient access to basic necessities in isolated communities, and breaches of fundamental principles of fair trial and protection against arbitrary detention. Such practices are incompatible with the Russian Federation’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Convention Against Torture (CAT), and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

Total number of violations: 13

Methodology

The findings presented in this report are based on open-source information including official communications by Russian authorities, regional and federal legislation, credible media reporting, and research conducted by independent experts. Where possible, the report cross- references multiple sources to verify accuracy. The report does not claim to be exhaustive. It focuses specifically on four sets of incidents in October 2025 which illustrate systemic patterns of international law violations and disregard for international standards.

Findings

I. Cultural Violations

A. Neglect of Karelian Cultural Heritage: The Haikola Vandalism Case

On 6th October 2025, an act of vandalism occurred on the island of Haikola (1) , located in the Kalevala District of the Republic of Karelia. The entrance area and informational stands of the “Trail of the Ancestors” route, created by local Karelian artisans as part of a community heritage initiative, were destroyed by unidentified individuals. (annex 1, fig. 1, 2)

The village of Haikola, one of the oldest Karelian settlements with significant cultural and historical importance for the indigenous population, is listed in the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage Objects of the Russian Federation (2) and is therefore subject to State protection and preservation measures. To date, no official investigation, arrests, or restoration activities have been publicly reported. Local authorities and law enforcement bodies have issued no statements or progress updates, and the incident does not appear in publicly accessible databases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The absence of visible investigative or restorative action contrasts with the treatment of others vandalism cases involving cultural property identified as part of the Russian heritage in Karelia. Notable examples include the vandalism of Church of John the Baptist in Lyaskelya in August 2020 (3) , where the windows were smashed; the destruction of Olonets historical wartime exhibition in July 2025 (4) ; and the desecration of graves associated with Russian and Soviet military history in May 2025 (5). In all three cases, authorities responded promptly with investigative checks, opened criminal investigations, and issued public statements. Those responsible were subsequently brought to justice.

These comparative examples may indicate a pattern of selective enforcement and prioritization. While incidents involving Russian Orthodox, wartime, or patriotic heritage appear to reveal immediate and transparent State responses, comparable acts of vandalism targeting Karelian heritage sites often remain unaddressed. This disparity suggests a potential structural neglect of the cultural expressions and heritage of the Karelia people. Such differential treatment may constitute a from State neglect under international cultural- rights standards. The Russian Federation, as a State party to the ICCPR (Article 15) and a signatory to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), holds an obligation to ensure equal protection of all cultural heritage within its territory. The absence of investigation or preservation measures in the Haikola case, juxtaposed with the prompt action taken in comparable cases involving Russian heritage, may therefore reflect a discriminatory application of heritage-protection mechanisms, undermining the cultural rights and identity of the indigenous Karelian population.

1 https://dzen.ru/a/aOiDU6NCZnqRkimc
2 https://www.haikola.ru/
3 https://news.rambler.ru/other/44651709-okno-za-oknom-rasstrelivali-kamnyami-hram-vandaly-oskvernili-tserkov- v-lyaskelya/amp/
4 https://karel.mk.ru/social/2025/0 7/07/moskva-trebuet-privlech-k-ugolovnoy-otvetstvennosti-za-oskvernenie- vystavki-posvyashhennoy-voyne-v-olonce.html
5 https://factornews.ru/news/retsidivist-oskvernil-mogilu-geroja-velikoj-otechestvennoj-vojny-v-karelii/

B. Administrative Interference in Karelian Cultural Institutions: The Case of Periodika Publishing House

On October 21st, 2025, it became publicly known that a former soldier who had participated in the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine was appointed Deputy Director of the State publishing house Periodika in the Republic of Karelia (6) . Although presented as an administrative decision, the appointment raises concerns within the broader political and cultural context of Karelia Local Karelian civil society representatives have expressed apprehension (7) that such decision symbolically associates the Karelian people and their institutions with the actions of the central authorities in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, potentially compromising their cultural and moral autonomy.

Periodika is the principal publishing institution responsible for producing media in the Karelian, Vepsian, and Finnish languages ​​and has historically played a key role in safeguarding the cultural and linguistic heritage of the region’s Finnic peoples. The appointment of an individual whose background is linked to a State-led military campaign characterized by strong emotional content may affect the editorial independence and cultural mission of the institution.

This development appears consistent with a broader trend of cultural instrumentation observed across the Russian Federation, where State cultural and educational institutions are increasingly used to reinforce flamboyant conformity. Placing a veteran of the so-called “special military operation” in a leadership position within Periodika may provide the authorities with a mechanism to influence the most important publisher of indigenous-language media in Karelia, steering its output narratives that align with centralized State ideology. Such influence could risk gradually transforming Periodika from a platform of cultural preservation into one reflecting State-centered historical and linguistic narratives rather than the indigenous heritage it was founded to protect.

Concerns about Periodika’s independence have been mounted since late 2024, when the publishing house reported experienced significant and unexplained reductions in State funding. These financial cuts led to a decline in the size and quality of publications, particularly magazines issued in Karelian, Vepsian, and Finnish. During the same period, Periodika’s external signage was removed from its building, an act widely perceived by local observes as symbolically diminishing its public visibility (8) . By the spring of 2025, the institution faced worsening internal conditions, including unsustainably low wages that led to staff resignations and jeopardized the future of the publishing house (9). Public appeals to local authorities to raise wages to a minimum living standard were reportedly denied. Such working conditions appear inconsistent with the Russian Federation’s obligations under Article 7(a)(ii), which guarantees fair remuneration ensuring a decent living for workers and their families.

The combination of financial deprivation, institutional restructuring, and leadership appointments that appear to reflect political or appreciative loyalty may indicate an ongoing centralization of control over Karelian, Vepsian, and Finnish cultural expression.

The weakening of Periodika thus represents not only an administrative of financial concern but may also constitute a violation of the potential of the cultural rights of indigenous peoples as protected under Article 15 and 27 of the ICCPR, and the UNDRIP. These instruments affirm the right of indigenous and native communities to maintain, develop, and transmit their languages ​​and cultural traditions without interference. Administrative decisions that compromise Periodika’s independence and capacity to serve the local Finnish communities therefore raise concerns regarding the State’s compliance with its obligations to protect and fulfill these rights.

6 https://t.me/stolicaonego/16354
7 https://t.me/Karjalan_Kansallinen_Liike/729
8 https://youtu.be/AT8Y1tU6Kj8?si=bmh74JhQd2TW3M6p&t=386
9 https://mustoi.ru/na-ministra-kiseleva-pozhaluyutsya-prezidentu-putinu/

II. Socioeconomic rights violation

A. Disruption of basic services in remote Karelian settlements

In mid-October 2025, residents of the villages of Malaya Selga and Bolshaya Selga, located in the Olonetsky Municipal District of the Republic of Karelia, reported that the only mobile grocery service serving their settlements made its final visit on October 1st, 2025 (10). The service announced that it would no longer provide regular deliveries, leaving inhabitants, many of whom are elderly, without reliable access to food and other essential goods on the eve of winter.

This incident is not isolated. It forms part of a broader pattern of inadequate provision of essential services to residents of remote villages of Karelia that lack alternative means to secure basic necessities. Municipal and regional measures have often proven insufficient or inconsistent. Representative examples include the cessation of deliveries to the village of Selga in the Medvezhyegorsk District (11) and repeated reports of similar disruptions in the villages of Ostrechye, Chebino, and Vionitsa (12) .

Taken together, these cases suggest that public measures remain inadequate to ensure continuous access to essential services for populations remote. Local prosecutors have reportedly opened inquiries in several instances and, in some cases, identified violations of residents’ rights and initiated litigation. However, available reporting does not indicate the implementation of consistent, enforceable remedies or systematic interventions capable of sustainably restoring the provision of basic goods and services to these settlements.

The recurring and prolonged absence of reliable supply of food and essential goods may constitute a failure by the State to fulfill its obligations under Article 11 of the ICESCR, which guarantees the right of everyone to adequate food and to physical and economic access to it at all times. It may also raise concerns under Article 25 of the UDHR, which protects the right to an adequate standard of living, including access to food, medical care, and necessary social services.

10 https://gubdaily.ru/news/nas-ostavili-bez-xleba-zhiteli-neskolkix-dereven-v-karelii-vyzhivayut-bez-produktov/
11 https://ptzgovorit.ru/news/zhiteley-karelskoy-derevni-obrekli-na-golodnuyu-blokadu
12 https://gubdaily.ru/news/dazhe-avtolavka-ne-priezzhaet-v-karelii-lyudi-ne-mogut-kupit-produkty/

III. Civil rights violations

A. Arbitrary arrest and possible coercion into confession

On October 23rd, 2025, it was reported that a man was arrested in the Republic of Karelia for allegedly communicating with Ukrainian special forces, providing information on military locations, and preparing potential sabotage act on a railway (13). Following his arrest, news media released a video in which the individual confessed to the alleged offenses.

According to media reports, he was prosecuted under Article 281.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. No public records of the trial are available, as such cases are typically held in camera.

This arrest is part of a broader pattern observed in the Russian Federation. Since 2022, there has has been marked increase in prosecutions under Article 281 (“Sabotage”), often in combination with Article 275 (“State Treason”) of the Criminal Code. Publicly available data and multiple credible reports suggest that these charges are frequently brought in cases with limited transparency, where detainees may be denied prompt access to legal counsel, and confessions appear to have was obtained under coercive or opaque circumstances.

Similar cases include: the arrest of a 21-year-old man in the Kaliningrad Region in December 2023 (14), the arrest of a 30-year-old man in the Kursk Region in December 2024 (15), and the arrest of two minors in the Arkhangelsk Region in September 2025 (16). In each instance, the Federal Security Service (FSB) reported detained individuals for alleged collaboration with Ukrainian actors in acts of sabotage against transport and communication infrastructure. In most cases, including the recent case from Karelia, authorities released video-recorded confessions within days of arrest; these produced and distributed by state security authorities. Proceedings were conducted in camera, with no public access to court documents and no verified reports of independent legal representation at the early stages of detention. The charges were announced based on minor incidents, online communications, or small financial transfers, which appear disproportionate to the severity of the charges.

Independent Finno-Ugric human rights activists have reported, on the condition of anonymity, that arrests in similar cases are often accompanied by psychological and physical pressure during interrogation, allegedly aimed at extracting incriminating information about the detainee or alleged accomplices.

Collectively, these patterns raise concerns regarding due process, the presumption of innocence, and the potential use confessions obtained under duress. The arrest of the 23rd October 2025 appears to follow the same pattern and may constitute a systematic practice of arbitrary detention and coerced confessions, potentially violating the Russian Federation’s obligations under international human rights law.

Specifically, such practices may be inconsistent with Article 9 (right to liberty and security of person) and Article 14 (right to fair trial) of the ICCPR, Articles 9 and 11 of the UHDR, and Articles 2,15, and 16 of the CAT, which recognize intimidation and coercion as forms of torture.

13 https://stolicaonego.ru/news/zhitelja-karelii-zaderzhali-po-podozreniju-v-gosizmene/
14 https://tass.ru/proisshestviya/19475951
15 https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/675c5b899a794784d712ca8b
16 https://amp.rbc.ru/rbcnews/rbcfreenews/68bffe9e9a794786cc8afaac

Recommendations

It is recommended that the United Nations call upon the Russian Federation to bring its cultural, administrative, and public policy practices into full conformity with its obligations under the ICCPR, ICESCR, UDHR, CAT, and UNDRIP, with specific regard to the Republic of Karelia.

  • The State should promptly initiate a transparent investigation into the act of vandalism at the cultural site on the “Trail of the Ancestors” in Haikola, and publicly report progress.
  • Measures should be adopted to ensure equal protection of all cultural heritage, including Karelian, Vepsian, and other indigenous sites, and prevent selective enforcement of protection heritage laws.
  • The State should review and regulate leadership appointments in institutions such as Periodika to safeguard editorial independence and prevent undue political or ideological influence.
  • Authorities should restore and maintain sufficient funding for indigenous-language publications to ensure the continuation of cultural and linguistic programs.
  • Measures should be adopted to guarantee fair remuneration, safe working conditions, and institutional autonomy in line with Article 7 of the ICCPR.
  • Policies should protect the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Karelian people, ensuring that cultural institutions do nor serve as tools for cultural indoctrination.
  • The State should guarantee continuous access to essential goods, including food and basic services, and should implement systematic measures to address gaps in public services and infrastructure in isolated communities.
  • Local complaints and inquiries regarding service disruptions should be addressed with enforceable remedies and sustainable solutions.
  • The State should guarantee prompt access to independent legal counsel for all detainees, including those accused under Article 275 and 281 of the Criminal Code. • Trials should be concluded transparently, with public access to documents, except where genuine security concerns justify limited access.
  • Independent surveillance mechanisms should be established to monitor suspicion of arbitrary detention, coerced confessions, intimidation and other forms of mistreatment, and violations of due process, and remedies should be provided to victims.

To ensure the effective implementation of these recommendations, it is further recommended that the United Nations:

  • Request the Russian Federation to include detailed information in its next periodic reports to the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights
  • Establish periodic monitoring and reporting mechanisms, including engagement with relevant Special Rapporteurs, to independently assess developments in the Republic of Karelia
  • Establish independent investigation into the arrest cases under Articles 275 and 281 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, with a mandate to examine criticism of arbitrary detention, coercion, and violations of international human rights law, including Article 9 and 14 of the ICCPR, and the CAT.

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