Supporting Russian Human Rights Defenders in Exile: Best Practices, Current Challenges: A case study of Czechia, Germany, Latvia, Poland and Portugal

Abstract

The paper looks at the entry and stay policies towards Russian HRDs at risk in selected EU member states as well as integration measures and opportunities offered after arrival. The questions addressed include: How have the selected EU countries responded to the need for emergency departure of Russian HRDs at risk, particularly in the wake of Russia's full- scale war against Ukraine? What lessons can EU member states draw from this experience for their national policies on receiving HRDs at risk from third countries? And, how can this experience inform the formulation of a common EU policy on humanitarian relocation of of HRDs at risk?