UN Experts Condemn Russia for Escalating Charges Against Human Rights Defender Mark Kuperman

Kuperman, head of the Public Human Rights Center in the Sakhalin region, received the Moscow Helsinki Group’s prestigious human rights prize in 2022.

A group of UN Special Rapporteurs has condemned the criminal prosecution of 85-year-old Russian human rights defender Mark Kuperman, who uses a wheelchair and suffers from multiple health issues. Kuperman, a renowned advocate for human rights and anti-war causes, is facing severe charges of "public calls for terrorist activities" under Article 205, part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code. The charges are widely seen as retaliation for his outspoken criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine and his democratic advocacy work.

Kuperman, head of the Public Human Rights Center in the Sakhalin region, received the Moscow Helsinki Group's prestigious human rights prize in 2022. Despite his prominent record of defending human rights, Russian authorities have escalated their campaign against him.

The charges stem from a draft document Kuperman allegedly shared with his team in January 2023, which discussed scenarios for democratic reforms in Russia and potential Western support for democratic institutions. Initially charged with "extremism" on 4 April 2024, the authorities raised the charges to "public calls for terrorist activities" on 20 December 2024.

UN experts have expressed deep concern over the fairness of the legal proceedings and their impact on Kuperman's health and well-being. They noted that the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk City Court imposed an unreasonably short five-working-day deadline for Kuperman to review the case files, providing no accommodations for his disabilities, including cognitive decline and weak vision. Investigators ended his review period arbitrarily on 24 January 2025, blocking his ability to prepare his defense.

Additionally, reports indicate that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) placed listening devices in Kuperman's apartment, violating his right to confidential communication with his lawyer. Given his physical impairment, Kuperman is unable to leave his apartment for legal consultations.

UN experts condemned the prosecution as a misuse of counter-terrorism laws to silence dissent and called for the immediate dismissal of all charges. They urged Russian authorities to stop weaponizing the judicial system against human rights defenders.

The experts have formally contacted the Russian Government, demanding accountability and protection for Mark Kuperman's rights under international law.