The situation of human rights defenders and civil activists in Ukraine in 2020

This report analyzes international documents, national law, and the conditions in which the human rights and civil activities of individuals and organizations took place in the territory of Ukraine controlled by the government during 2020.

It considers the key problems faced by human rights advocates and civil activists, list specific cases of persecution of human rights defenders and civil activists, particularly criminal, civil and administrative persecution, threats, cases of physical violence (including murder, beating and property damage), surveillance and discreditation campaigns, obstruction of peaceful gatherings, etc.

The target audience of the report includes representatives of government bodies, international and intergovernmental organizations, journalists, human rights defenders and civil activists.

The annual report is available in Ukrainian and English.

The quarterly monitorings are also available:

The situation in the first quarter of 2020 — in Ukrainian and English.

The situation in the second quarter of 2020 — in Ukrainian and English.

The situation in the third quarter of 2020 — in Ukrainian and English.

The report has been prepared by the ZMINA Human Rights Centre as a part of the Increasing the Role and Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Ukraine project, in partnership with the Netherlands Helsinki Committee and with financial support by the European Union.

Authors: Liudmyla Yankina, Tetiana Pechonchyk, Anastasiia Moskvychova, Olena Vynogradova