OVD-Info explained

Native Name:ОВД-Инфо
Native Name Lang:ru
Type:Nonprofit non-governmental organization
Founder:Grigory Okhotin and Daniil Beilinson
Area Served:Russia
Num Employees:~7000 volunteers as of 2023, undisclosed number of staff

OVD-Info 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]

History

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, 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 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]

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.[12] [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

Monitoring

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]

Legal aid

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).

Newsletters

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

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.

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.

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. 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

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

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.

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. Russian banks — Tinkoff, Alfa-Bank and — 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

July 2019: Redkollegia.[39]

2020: .[40] [41]

2021: Civil Rights Defender of the Year.[42] Leonid Drabkin, 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-09-30. Russia labels Mediazona, OVD-Info, and 2 journalists as 'foreign agents'. 2021-12-25. Committee to Protect Journalists. en.
  2. Web site: 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. 2021-02-08. ohchr.org. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
  3. Web site: Sivtsova. Alexandra. 2019-08-28. Translated by Kevin Rothrock. 'A little human rights buggy' The rise of 'OVD-Info,' Russia's lifeline for arrested protesters. 2021-12-25. Meduza. en.
  4. Web site: OVD-Info. 2021-02-08. openDemocracy.
  5. Web site: 2012-09-21 . Задержанный для нас априори прав . The detainee is a priori right for us . 2021-02-08 . . ru.
  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. ru. 10.24411/2070-5107-2014-00021. CyberLeninka.
  7. Web site: Наши партнеры. Our partners. 2021-02-08. ovdinfo.org. ru.
  8. Web site: 2013-04-30 . Прокуратура сочла деятельность "Мемориала" и "ОВД-Инфо" политической . The prosecutor's office considered the activities of Memorial and OVD-Info political . 2021-02-08 . bg.ru . ru.
  9. Web site: 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 . 2021-02-08 . . ru.
  10. Web site: 2021-09-29. OVD-Info was recognized as a foreign agent. What's next?. 2021-12-25. OVD-Info.
  11. Web site: Litvinova. Dasha. 2021-12-25. Russia blocks website of group that tracks political arrests. 2021-12-25. Associated Press. en.
  12. News: Soldatkin. Vladimir. 2021-12-25. Russia blocks website of OVD-Info protest-monitoring group. en. Reuters. Moscow. Lawson. Hugh. 2021-12-25.
  13. Web site: 2021-12-25. Russia blocks website of prominent protest monitoring group. 2021-12-25. Al Jazeera. en.
  14. Web site: 2021-12-25. Russia Blocks Website Of Prominent Rights Monitor Amid Crackdown On Civil Society. 2021-12-25. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. en.
  15. Web site: 1,200 Protesters Detained Across Russia After Putin's Partial Military Draft, Human Rights Group Says . 2022-09-21 . 2022-09-25 . . en.
  16. Web site: Миссия и команда. Mission and team. 2021-02-08. ovdinfo.org. ru.
  17. Web site: 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. 2021-02-08. philanthropy.ru. ru.
  18. Web site: The Dissident Digest . 2023-06-30 . ОВД-Инфо . ru.
  19. Web site: Airtable Everyone's app platform . 2023-07-19 . Airtable . en.
  20. Web site: 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 . 2021-02-08. Vedomosti. ru.
  21. Web site: 2017-03-26. Задержания на "АнтиДимоне" в Москве. Detentions on AntiDimon in Moscow. 2021-02-08. ovdinfo.org. ru.
  22. Web site: 2018-09-09. Акции против пенсионной реформы. Онлайн ОВД-Инфо. Actions against pension reform. Online OVD-Info. 2021-02-08. ovdinfo.org. ru.
  23. Web site: 2018-09-10. 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. 2021-02-08. Novaya Gazeta. ru.
  24. Web site: Anti-war case . 2023-06-30 . ОВД-Инфо.
  25. Web site: Вдохновляющие истории десятилетия . Inspiring stories of the decade . 2023-06-30 . Вдохновляющие истории десятилетия . ru-RU.
  26. News: Nechepurenko . Ivan . 2023-04-26 . Russian Lawyers Ask Court to Ease Crackdown on Speaking Out . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-06-30 . 0362-4331.
  27. Web site: Vorobyov . Niko . In Russia, children opposing the Ukraine war are being targeted . 2023-06-30 . www.aljazeera.com . en.
  28. News: Editorial . 2023-02-22 . The Guardian view on human rights in Russia: back the resistance . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-06-30 . 0261-3077.
  29. Web site: Доклады. Reports. 2021-02-08. ovdinfo.org. ru.
  30. Web site: 2018-12-18. "ОВД-Инфо» опубликовали доклад «Искусство запрещать". OVD-Info published a report The Art of Denying. 2021-02-08. paperpaper.ru. ru.
  31. Web site: Помоги проекту "ОВД-Инфо" . Help the OVD-Info project . 2023-07-19 . ОВД-Инфо.
  32. Web site: 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 . 2021-02-08 . . ru.
  33. Web site: Годовой отчет ОВД-Инфо 2018 . OVD-Info Annual Report 2018 . 2023-07-18 . ОВД-Инфо.
  34. Web site: Годовой отчет ОВД-Инфо 2019 . OVD-Info Annual Report 2019 . 2023-07-18 . ОВД-Инфо.
  35. Web site: Годовой отчет ОВД-Инфо 2020 . OVD-Info Annual Report 2020 . 2023-07-18 . ОВД-Инфо . en.
  36. Web site: Февраль 2021 года: на что мы тратили ваши деньги . February 2021: what we spent your money on . 2023-07-18 . ОВД-Инфо . ru.
  37. Web site: 2021-12-27 . ОВД оставили без инфо Проблемы правозащитного проекта похожи на претензии к «Мемориалу» . Комиссия СПЧ по правам человека в информационной среде намерена сделать заявление о блокировке правозащитного проекта «ОВД-Инфо» (внесен в реестр иноагентов)... . The police department was left without information The problems of the human rights project are similar to the claims against Memorial . 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)... . 2023-07-18 . Коммерсантъ . ru.
  38. Web site: Май 2023: что успели сделать благодаря вашей поддержке . May 2023: what we managed to accomplish thanks to your support . 2023-07-18 . ОВД-Инфо . ru.
  39. Web site: Медиакоманда ОВД-Инфо. OVD-Info media team. 2021-09-23. Redkollegia. ru.
  40. Web site: Премия им. Льва Копелева. Lev Kopelev Prize. 2021-12-25. kopelew-forum.de. ru.
  41. Web site: Romashenko. Sergey. 2021-04-15. Лидеры оппозиции в Беларуси удостоены премии имени Льва Копелева. Opposition leaders in Belarus were awarded the Lev Kopelev Prize. 2021-12-25. Deutsche Welle. ru.
  42. Web site: 2021-09-23. Civil Rights Defender of the Year 2021 – OVD-Info. 2021-12-25. Civil Rights Defenders. en.
  43. Web site: Zakharov. Pavel. Леонид Драбкин, 28. Leonid Drabkin, 28. 2021-12-25. 30-under-30.forbes.ru. ru.
  44. Web site: 2021-05-28. Выпускники Вышки стали победителями рейтинга Forbes "30 до 30". HSE alumni have become the winners of the Forbes '30 to 30' rating. 2021-12-25. Higher School of Economics. ru.

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