Russia
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
12 / 100
Not Free
Internet Freedom
16 / 100
Not Free
Power in Russia’s authoritarian political system is concentrated in the hands of President Vladimir Putin. With loyalist security forces, a subservient judiciary, a controlled media environment, and a legislature consisting of a ruling party and pliable opposition factions, the Kremlin manipulates elections and suppresses genuine dissent.
Research & Recommendations
Russia
Not Free
12
100
| PR Political Rights | 4 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 8 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
12
100
Not Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
Power in Russia’s authoritarian political system is concentrated in the hands of President Vladimir Putin. With subservient courts and security forces, a controlled media environment, and a legislature consisting of a ruling party and pliable opposition factions, the Kremlin manipulates elections and suppresses genuine opposition. Rampant corruption facilitates shifting links among state officials and organized crime groups. Since the regime launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, authorities have intensified restrictions on individual rights and liberties in order to stifle domestic dissent.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Russia
Not Free
16
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 10 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 3 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 3 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
17
100
Not Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Internet freedom in Russia hit a new low as authorities ramped up efforts to isolate the population from the global internet. In February 2026, President Vladimir Putin approved legal changes that allow the Federal Security Service (FSB) to demand that providers of cellular and landline internet service turn off or restrict access for users based solely on presidential decrees. Throughout the coverage period, mobile internet was disrupted and shut down across entire regions, most notably in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Roskomnadzor, the state communications regulator, continued to block websites as well as targeting end-to-end encrypted messaging applications and some of the remaining foreign platforms that host user-generated content. A new law punishing intentional searches for broadly defined “extremist material” was enacted during the coverage period, alongside another law that lists using virtual private networks (VPNs) as an aggravating circumstance during the commission of some crimes. People who criticized the Kremlin’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine that had begun in 2022, and the government more broadly, continued to receive long prison sentences.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
Russia
1
100
| DEMOCRACY-PERCENTAGE Democracy Percentage | 1.19 100 |
| DEMOCRACY-SCORE Democracy Score | 1.07 7 |
Last Year's Democracy Percentage & Status
2
100
The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 1 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The Democracy Percentage, introduced in 2020, is a translation of the Democracy Score to the 0-100 scale, where 0 equals least democratic and 100 equals most democratic.
See the methodology.
Executive Summary
In 2023, the Russian government doubled down on its authoritarian tactics as the Putin regime further curtailed freedom of speech; used violence, threats, and politicized arrests and prosecutions to intimidate its enemies; and intensified propaganda in an effort to maintain the support of citizens. After two years of war in Ukraine, Russian society has become increasingly isolated and resentful, deeply influenced by anti-Western propaganda, belligerent narratives, and patriotic appeals. In this environment, civic expression remains constrained and most Russians avoid any unsanctioned political activities. The Ukraine war remained the predominant issue, despite the authorities’ efforts to portray normality through regular elections and diverting citizens’ attention to non-war-related matters. Ukrainian military incursions into the border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk persisted. These areas have endured shelling, drone assaults, and infiltrations by military units claiming to be Russians fighting on the Ukrainian side.
Nations in Transit 2024 Policy Recommendations
Ensure that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is soundly defeated.
The future of European democracy and security is now inextricably linked to the fate of Ukraine. European Union (EU) and NATO member states must not only invest far more—and more efficiently—in their collective defense, but also provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to roll back Russian advances and build a durable democracy of its own.
Support democratic renewal and reform.
In addition to defending the international order from emboldened autocrats, democratic governments must attend to democratic renewal within Europe, particularly among nascent democracies.
Provide consistent messaging and support to Europe’s aspiring democracies.
Military aggression from autocracies in the region has underscored the dangers of exclusion from democracy-based organizations like the EU and NATO, galvanizing the political will of policymakers in aspiring member states and generating further public pressure to undertake long-sought democratic reforms.
The Russian government conducts highly aggressive transnational repression activities abroad. Its campaign, which heavily relies on assassination as a tool, targets former insiders and others who are perceived as threats to the regime’s security. The government pairs this campaign with control over key cultural institutions operating abroad, in an effort to exert influence over the Russian diaspora.The Russian campaign accounts for 7 of 26 assassinations or assassination attempts since 2014, as catalogued in Freedom House’s global survey.
Policy Recommendations: Transnational Repression
Raising awareness about the threat of transnational repression.
Like-minded governments and international organizations should work together to highlight the threat of transnational repression and establish international norms for addressing it.
Limiting the ability of perpetrators to commit transnational repression.
This includes agreeing on a common definition of transnational repression, and prohibiting the use of Interpol notices on their own to deny immigration or asylum benefits or conduct arrests.
Bringing accountability for acts of transnational repression.
Among other tactics, governments should deploy a robust strategy for targeted sanctions against perpetrators of transnational repression.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
12
/ 100
Not Free
Freedom on the Net Score
16
/ 100
Not Free
Nations in Transit Score
1
/ 100
Population: 144,200,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
March 1517, 2024
Type of Election
Presidential
Internet Penetration
88.20%
Election Year
2024
Vulnerability Index
13
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Origina Country
Tactics
Assassination, Rendition, Unlawful Deportation, Digital Threat, Spyware, Interpol Abuse
Targets
Former insiders and defectors that threaten the Russian regime. Chechens face extreme threats from the Chechen Republic.
