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OVD-Info

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OVD-Info (Russian: ОВД-Инфо) is an independent[1] Russian human rights media project aimed at combating political persecution. Its main focus is freedom of assembly. OVD-Info is one of Russia’s largest human rights NGOs.[2][3][4]

OVD-Info
Native name
ОВД-Инфо
Company typeNonprofit non-governmental organization
FoundedDecember 2011; 12 years ago (2011-12)
FounderGrigory Okhotin and Daniil Beilinson
Area served
Russia
Number of employees
~7000 volunteers as of 2023, undisclosed number of staff
Websiteen.ovdinfo.org

History

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OVD-Info was founded in December 2011 by Moscow journalist Grigory Okhotin and programmer Daniil Beilinson. They witnessed mass arrests of participants in the pro-democracy rally on December 5, 2011. Okhotin and Beilinson then posted the total number of detainees and their names on Facebook. The post went viral, and seeing the demand for their work, by December 10, on the eve of the rally on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, Okhotin and Beilinson launched the OVD-Info website.

The name of the project comes from the abbreviation Department of Internal Affairs (Russian: Отдел Внутренних Дел), which is what police departments are often called in Russia.[5] "OVD-Info" thus means "information about the police".[6]

Since 1 February 2013, the main partner of the project is the Nobel-winning Memorial Human Rights Center.[7] In 2013, the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation [Wikidata] demanded that Memorial register as a foreign agent, since it receives funding from abroad to support OVD-Info, which was regarded by the prosecutor's office as partisan. According to the prosecutor's office, some of OVD-Info's data on political persecutions is not objective. OVD-Info says that it is not partisan.[8][9]

On 29 September 2021 the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation designated OVD-Info as a "foreign agent". The decision was criticised as politically motivated and intended to stifle dissent.[10][11][12]

On 25 December 2021 the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) blocked the website of OVD-Info after a court ruling. A representative for OVD-Info said that they had not received any notifications from the government and the reason for the blocking was unknown to them.[11][13][14]

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, OVD-Info expanded its mandate to help anti-war protesters. It extensively covered non-violent anti-war resistance in Russia and provided legal aid to anti-war activists.[15]

Services

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Monitoring

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OVD-Info monitors politically motivated persecutions and cases of abuse of authority by Russian police. OVD-Info publishes information in the form of digests and stories told by the victims themselves.[16][17]

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The project provides legal aid in the form of consultations and a 24/7 hotline (through the hotline the project receives most of the information, which it then publishes in its bulletins on the website), lawyer visits to custody, legal defense in courts (up to filing complaints to European Court of Human Rights).[16][17]

Newsletters

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OVD-Info published a weekly English-language newsletter that monitors and explains Russia’s crackdown on human rights as well as activists’ struggle.[18] OVD-Info’s data division publishes a newsletter specifically geared towards experts.[19]

Informing

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The project monitors cases of violence against Russia’s political prisoners. The website also maintains a mailing list with reports on political persecution in Russia, along with an English-language newsletter.[16][17]

OVD-Info publishes lists of detainees. In 2018, the project assisted 660 people in police departments, about 200 people in administrative and 32 in criminal cases.[16][17]

The project covered many Russian protests. For example, OVD-Info published detailed statistics on arrests at anti-corruption protests in March 2017,[20][21] at protests against raising the retirement age in 2018.[22][23] In June 2019, the project played a significant role in drawing public attention to the case of journalist Ivan Golunov. At the same time, the project itself managed to become more widely known — on June 12, 2019, OVD-Info received an average monthly amount of donations in one day.[17] In 2021 OVD-Info covered the crackdown on the pro-Navalny protests, later releasing a film about it. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they have been covering the ongoing crackdowns on the Russian anti-war movement.[24]

Research

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OVD-Info collaborates with media, academia and think tanks, providing data and expertise.[25] Some of the media that used OVD-Info data are the New York Times, Al Jazeera, the Guardian and others.[26][27][28] The project publishes reports on Russian authorities’ human rights violations.[29] In 2018—2019, reports were published on the topic of bans of rallies in Russian cities.[30]

Functioning and financing

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As of June 2023, OVD-Info leads roughly 7000 volunteers and employs an undisclosed number of staff.[31] OVD-Info provides assistance to those who find themselves under administrative or criminal prosecution for expressing their political position. The project is aimed at the development of civil society an ending repressions in Russia and relies mostly on grassroots donations to operate.[17]

Since 2013 till 2022 the Nobel-winning Memorial Human Rights Center has acted as an infrastructural partner of OVD-Info. From 2015 to the present day, the project has been actively developing their of grassroots donations base.[17] Russian banks — Tinkoff, Alfa-Bank and VTB 24 [Wikidata] — refused processing donations to OVD-Info.[32]

2018

OVD-Info managed to attract more than 19.8 million rubles, of which about 5.66 million was attained through crowdfunding.[33]

2019

59.5 million rubles, 64% of which were private donations.[34]

2020

Private donations accounted for 67% of all OVD-Info finances. In total, the project attracted 67 million rubles.[35]

2021

The volume of private donations to the project increased by almost 6 times. In February alone, OVD-Info received 58,000 donations in the amount of 57 million rubles.[36] In total, by the end of 2021, the project was supported by 19 thousand regular donors, in 2021 it raised 247.5 million rubles. private donations.[37]

2023

About 14-17 thousand people have been supporting the project every month.[38]

Awards

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July 2019: Redkollegia.[39]

2020: Lew-Kopelew-Preis [de].[40][41]

2021: Civil Rights Defender of the Year.[42] Leonid Drabkin (Russian: Леонид Драбкин), Operations Coordinator of OVD-Info, was selected to be a winner in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Social practices category.[43][44]

References

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  1. ^ "Russia labels Mediazona, OVD-Info, and 2 journalists as 'foreign agents'". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  2. ^ "Submission from the NGOs "Human rights Center Memorial" and "OVD-Info" for a half-day general discussion in preparation for a General Comment on article 21 (right to peaceful assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". ohchr.org. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  3. ^ Sivtsova, Alexandra (2019-08-28). "'A little human rights buggy' The rise of 'OVD-Info,' Russia's lifeline for arrested protesters". Meduza. Translated by Kevin Rothrock. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  4. ^ "OVD-Info". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  5. ^ "Задержанный для нас априори прав" [The detainee is a priori right for us]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  6. ^ Volkov, Denis (2014). "«ОккупайАбай» – уличный протестный лагерь в Москве в мае 2012 года глазами его участников" [OccupyAbay – a street protest camp in Moscow in May 2012 through the eyes of its participants]. The Russian Public Opinion Herald (in Russian). doi:10.24411/2070-5107-2014-00021 – via CyberLeninka.
  7. ^ "Наши партнеры" [Our partners]. ovdinfo.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  8. ^ "Прокуратура сочла деятельность "Мемориала" и "ОВД-Инфо" политической" [The prosecutor's office considered the activities of Memorial and OVD-Info political]. bg.ru (in Russian). 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  9. ^ Smirnov, Sergey (2013-04-30). "Прокуратура требует, чтобы "Мемориал" встал на учет как иностранный агент" [Prosecutor's office demands that Memorial register as a foreign agent]. Vedomosti (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  10. ^ "OVD-Info was recognized as a foreign agent. What's next?". OVD-Info. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  11. ^ a b Soldatkin, Vladimir (2021-12-25). Lawson, Hugh (ed.). "Russia blocks website of OVD-Info protest-monitoring group". Reuters. Moscow. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  12. ^ Litvinova, Dasha (2021-12-25). "Russia blocks website of group that tracks political arrests". Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  13. ^ "Russia blocks website of prominent protest monitoring group". Al Jazeera. 2021-12-25. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  14. ^ "Russia Blocks Website Of Prominent Rights Monitor Amid Crackdown On Civil Society". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2021-12-25. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  15. ^ "1,200 Protesters Detained Across Russia After Putin's Partial Military Draft, Human Rights Group Says". Forbes. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  16. ^ a b c d "Миссия и команда" [Mission and team]. ovdinfo.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Pavlova, Olga (2019-06-19). "В стране сотни "Иванов Голуновых": как работает ОВД-Инфо" [There are hundreds of "Ivanov Golunovs" in the country: how OVD-Info works]. philanthropy.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  18. ^ "The Dissident Digest". ОВД-Инфо (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  19. ^ "Airtable | Everyone's app platform". Airtable. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  20. ^ Korzhova, Daria; Overchenko, Mikhail; Raibman, Natalia; Mukhametshina, Elena (2017-03-26). "Акция против коррупции в Москве: более 850 задержанных" [Action against corruption in Moscow: more than 850 detainees]. Vedomosti (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  21. ^ "Задержания на "АнтиДимоне" в Москве" [Detentions on AntiDimon in Moscow]. ovdinfo.org (in Russian). 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  22. ^ "Акции против пенсионной реформы. Онлайн ОВД-Инфо" [Actions against pension reform. Online OVD-Info]. ovdinfo.org (in Russian). 2018-09-09. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  23. ^ "В «ОВД-Инфо» сообщили о задержании не менее 1018 человек на акциях против пенсионной реформы в России" [OVD-Info reported on the detention of at least 1,018 people at protests against pension reform in Russia]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  24. ^ "Anti-war case". ОВД-Инфо. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  25. ^ "Вдохновляющие истории десятилетия" [Inspiring stories of the decade]. Вдохновляющие истории десятилетия (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  26. ^ Nechepurenko, Ivan (2023-04-26). "Russian Lawyers Ask Court to Ease Crackdown on Speaking Out". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  27. ^ Vorobyov, Niko. "In Russia, children opposing the Ukraine war are being targeted". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  28. ^ Editorial (2023-02-22). "The Guardian view on human rights in Russia: back the resistance". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  29. ^ "Доклады" [Reports]. ovdinfo.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  30. ^ ""ОВД-Инфо» опубликовали доклад «Искусство запрещать"" [OVD-Info published a report The Art of Denying]. paperpaper.ru (in Russian). 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  31. ^ "Помоги проекту "ОВД-Инфо"" [Help the OVD-Info project]. ОВД-Инфо. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  32. ^ Eremina, Anna; Mukhametshina, Elena (2016-01-25). "Банки отказали проекту "ОВД-инфо" в эквайринге для сбора пожертвований" [Banks refused to acquiring the OVD-info project to collect donations]. Vedomosti (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  33. ^ "Годовой отчет ОВД-Инфо 2018" [OVD-Info Annual Report 2018]. ОВД-Инфо. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  34. ^ "Годовой отчет ОВД-Инфо 2019" [OVD-Info Annual Report 2019]. ОВД-Инфо. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  35. ^ "Годовой отчет ОВД-Инфо 2020" [OVD-Info Annual Report 2020]. ОВД-Инфо. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  36. ^ "Февраль 2021 года: на что мы тратили ваши деньги" [February 2021: what we spent your money on]. ОВД-Инфо (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  37. ^ "ОВД оставили без инфо Проблемы правозащитного проекта похожи на претензии к «Мемориалу»" [The police department was left without information The problems of the human rights project are similar to the claims against Memorial]. Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 2021-12-27. Retrieved 2023-07-18. Комиссия СПЧ по правам человека в информационной среде намерена сделать заявление о блокировке правозащитного проекта «ОВД-Инфо» (внесен в реестр иноагентов)... [The HRC Commission on Human Rights in the Information Environment intends to make a statement about blocking the human rights project “OVD-Info” (included in the register of foreign agents)...]
  38. ^ "Май 2023: что успели сделать благодаря вашей поддержке" [May 2023: what we managed to accomplish thanks to your support]. ОВД-Инфо (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  39. ^ "Медиакоманда ОВД-Инфо" [OVD-Info media team]. Redkollegia (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  40. ^ "Премия им. Льва Копелева" [Lev Kopelev Prize]. kopelew-forum.de (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  41. ^ Romashenko, Sergey (2021-04-15). "Лидеры оппозиции в Беларуси удостоены премии имени Льва Копелева" [Opposition leaders in Belarus were awarded the Lev Kopelev Prize]. Deutsche Welle (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  42. ^ "Civil Rights Defender of the Year 2021 – OVD-Info". Civil Rights Defenders. 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  43. ^ Zakharov, Pavel. "Леонид Драбкин, 28" [Leonid Drabkin, 28]. 30-under-30.forbes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  44. ^ "Выпускники Вышки стали победителями рейтинга Forbes "30 до 30"" [HSE alumni have become the winners of the Forbes '30 to 30' rating]. Higher School of Economics (in Russian). 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
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