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The authorities are doing everything in their power to stop us and our work. When we were declared ‘extremists,’ we realized that our only option was to find new ways to help people. The September elections were an important milestone: we had to learn to support people under these new conditions, and with no less dedication.
Our desire and ability to explain complex legal issues in plain language and teach people to protect their rights can’t be taken away from us. They can ban us, but no one can ban knowledge and mutual aid. And we will continue this work!
—Liza, lawyer
How you helped us
OVD-Info exists thanks to generous public support. In September, we raised 55,456 euros through crowdfunding. Here’s the breakdown:
- 3,436 euros in one-time donations made with international cards or cryptocurrency
- 50,974 euros in recurring donations from 3,076 supporters
- 1,046 euros in donations made via the GlobalGiving platform
At the same time, 65 people cancelled their regular contributions to OVD-Info, and only 45 people signed up to make recurring donations. September was the fourth consecutive month that we lost more regular donors than we gained—and this is a direct result of the Russian authorities blacklisting OVD-Info as an “extremist” organisation.
Since June 2026, we’ve had to warn our audience that anyone who lives in Russia or travels there could face criminal liability for supporting OVD-Info. In other words, we’ve actively urged anyone who could be put at risk to stop donating.
OVD-Info no longer accepts donations in rubles or spends money in Russia. We now only accept contributions made using international cards or cryptocurrency.
September spending
Our September spending totalled 233,587 euros, which is more than we earned through crowdfunding. However, our additional income streams and savings help us cover the shortfall when necessary.
Aid for victims of repression
41,049 euros
OVD-Info still supports people facing political persecution in Russia, although we’ve had to halt direct assistance and cut ties with lawyers and volunteers inside the country for safety reasons. Despite these restrictions, we are continuing to seek out and develop new, safe ways to support people affected by repression. A significant proportion of your donations go towards this work, and it remains a core part of our mission.
We also promote fundraisers organised by human rights groups and support groups for political prisoners. In September, we helped raise donations for two initiatives: a campaign supporting imprisoned youth activists Anna Arkhipova and Yan Ksenzhepolsky and First Line, a crisis and psychological support hotline.
The OVD-Info helpline
20,047 euros
The OVD-Info helpline operates 12 hours a day, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Moscow time. Every enquiry is handled by our team of helpline operators and lawyers—real people who can offer advice on a range of legal issues. When needed, we keep the helpline open 24 hours a day.
Our monitoring team also tracks and publishes news reports about emerging criminal cases and instances of state persecution. This provides our helpline operators with up-to-date information, so people in trouble can get answers and legal advice quickly.
Over the past month, we received 1,384 enquiries through our Telegram chatbot. The most common questions concerned the recent elections, crossing the Russian border safely, and army service and mobilisation. During the September 18–20 State Duma vote, our helpline operated around the clock. Of the 451 enquiries we received over those three days, 235 were election-related.
We also received nine enquiries connected to new criminal cases, which we referred to partner organisations.
Media and legal education
22,590 euros
At OVD-Info, we believe that information is a form of protection. That’s why we report on repression, publish news updates, produce guides and explainers on resisting state pressure and protecting individual rights, and then share these resources through our website, social media accounts, and newsletters.
In September, our educational materials received more than 996,000 views. Our social media content largely focused on the State Duma vote, but we also began covering digital security more frequently. We published long-form articles, including a report analyzing repression during the elections, and two comprehensive guides: one on voters’ rights and one on how to prepare care packages for people held in administrative detention.
We also launched “Dangerous People,” our new YouTube project exploring the origins of terms like “extremist,” “terrorist,” and “foreign agent,” how their meanings change under authoritarian regimes, and why vague laws enable repression.
Finally, after a long break, we revived our English-language accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn to connect with international audiences and raise awareness about the human rights situation in Russia.
Campaigns and special projects
21,976 euros
To combat repression, we organise public campaigns and special projects that offer simple and safe ways to effect change and reduce personal risk.
In September, we organised a dedicated elections helpline with a guest expert specializing in electoral law. He joined our operators for one day and fielded more than 200 enquiries about voters’ rights.
We also launched a letter-writing campaign calling on Telegram to improve the platform’s virtual in-app currency, Telegram Stars. The Russian authorities treat Telegram Stars like donations, and people in Russia are increasingly being prosecuted for using this feature. Together with lawyers and security experts, we drew up a set of proposed changes, and more than 1,000 people sent our suggestions to Telegram.
After the “extremism” designation, we lost access to our email marketing service. So, we spent the summer rebuilding this infrastructure and restoring our newsletter, “Aptechka” (“First Aid Kit,” in Russian). Now, we’re working hard to attract new subscribers. “Aptechka” is a helpful guide to protecting one’s rights and navigating life in Russia. Subscribers receive practical advice from lawyers on a range of everyday issues two or three times a month. In September, our newsletter reached more than 98,000 people.
Another key priority is developing our strategy for reaching international audiences. We are actively looking for new media partners and communication channels, and conveying to people outside of Russia how they can support our work.
Data and expertise
11,576 euros
The OVD-Info team gathers and analyses data about political repression in Russia, and publishes datasets. We use this information to write reports on how repressive laws and practices enable political persecution, and then raise these issues in international forums—including the United Nations, OSCE, and the Council of Europe—to ensure that repression in Russia doesn’t go unnoticed. The work of lawyers preparing complaints for submissions to international bodies also falls under this umbrella.
In September, Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, cited OVD-Info data in a report on transnational repression. (We published our own report on this topic last year.)
We also resumed updating our public database of politically motivated criminal cases. A substantial backlog of data accumulated over the summer, but the “extremism” designation and our resulting loss of staff delayed processing.
During the State Duma elections, our data team analysed 590 cases of administrative pressure (based on data from OVD-Info and the monitoring project Elections 2026) and documented 18 detentions. We published an analysis of these incidents on our website.
Technical infrastructure support and volunteer coordination
27,188 euros
Our IT team develops and maintains the services that keep our team running smoothly. The many volunteers who help us with our IT infrastructure are the backbone of this work. We rely on them for large-scale and unusual tasks that we can’t handle on our own.
In September, 64 volunteers supported our work. Twelve people added data on political persecution to our public database. Eleven people researched “gray passports,” gathering information we need to advise activists based abroad who are unable to renew their documents at Russian consulates. Eight people volunteered as illustrators. Seven people researched human rights and civil society organizations abroad that can help Russian exiles in difficult situations. Two others helped with operational tasks, including translation work and providing consultations through our helpline.
During the State Duma vote, 24 volunteers took calls on our helpline, conducted monitoring, wrote news updates, and recorded data on arrests and election-related incidents.
If you’re interested in joining OVD-Info’s volunteer community, visit our website.
Risk management and security
19,515 euros
Our work documenting and combating political persecution carries real risks for our staff and volunteers. These funds went towards protecting them and providing them security training.
Operational costs
37,038 euros
The essential, behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything else running: day-to-day planning, budgeting, setting strategic goals, ensuring financial transparency, and maintaining long-term sustainability. Clear principles and policies underpin our organization’s work, and we carefully monitor all processes to ensure transparency, efficiency, and alignment with our goals.
Taxes and Accounting
32,608 euros
To ensure our operations remain transparent, we maintain proper financial records and pay taxes. These costs also cover HR processes, document management, and fees charged by the payment systems we use to accept and process your donations.