Prague Civil Society Centre

07/10/2026

Twenty years have passed since Anna Politkovskaya’s brutal murder.

Known for her fearless investigations of the atrocities of the second Chechen war and the crimes committed by both Russian and the Kadyrov family’s troops, Politkovskaya became an enemy to the
Kremlin. She faced threats, violence, detention, a mock ex*****on, and attempted poisoning.

Despite all this, the Novaya Gazeta journalist kept reporting, and she frequently warned the public about the threats of Vladimir Putin’s growing power. “We are hurtling back into a Soviet abyss, into an information vacuum that spells death from our own ignorance,” she wrote in 2004.

On 7 October 2006, Politkovskaya was found dead in her apartment building in Moscow, with several gunshot wounds. Her murder, most likely ordered by the state authorities, shocked the world.

Her courage and determination will inspire us forever.

06/10/2026

Endless scrolling and misleading narratives make it harder than ever to connect. 📱 To cut through the noise, communities need stories that build real trust. That’s why we hosted Quest Hub in Czechia, bringing together Moldovan creators and activists for two dynamic days of mentorship, collaboration, and an outdoor quest in nature. 🤝

Together, we explored fresh tools to counter disinformation, spark meaningful dialogue, and craft stories that truly resonate back home. 💡

Thank you to everyone who joined us! ✨

30/09/2026

The September harvest of news from the Centre is on its way to your inbox. 📨

If you are not yet subscribed, you can still access valuable insights on topics such as ‘the special electoral operation’ in Russia, the release of 40 political prisoners in Belarus, and a unique online tool called ‘The Everywhere War: Sub-Threshold Warfare Tracker’, as well as a selection of our watchdog and media partners’ top investigations from Ukraine, via link in comments. 📮

29/09/2026

👻 “You can’t be afraid of what you laugh at,” claims Maksym Shcherbyna, creative producer of renowned satirical independent media outlet Телебачення Торонто from Ukraine.

The popular medium was founded in 2012, originally as a satirical YouTube channel for a young audience. The character of the fictional, naive reporter Michael Shchur from Canada made it possible at the time to gain access to prominent politicians and subsequently confront them through irony. But Toronto TV has long since outgrown that label; today, it is one of the most prominent independent media outlets in Ukraine. While the editorial team still relies on humour, it combines it with investigative journalism, news reporting, and commentary.

Watch the full interview on our Youtube channel via link down there. 👀

21/09/2026

🇷🇺 🗳 The outcome of Russia’s sham election was a foregone conclusion. What happens next is less clear. Why is the Kremlin so intent on mimicking the electoral process, and what will follow?

The first national parliamentary “elections” since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine brought predictable results – record voter turnout and record gains for the ruling United Russia party, solidifying an even more robust constitutional majority than the last one in 2021.

It has been a long time since legislative elections in Russia have had any relationship with democracy. They do however, serve as a test of the loyalty and effectiveness of regional leadership as well as offering a moment for a certain, albeit severely limited, political debate within society.

However, this time the political technologists tasked with engineering the vote faced unusual difficulties. They failed to anticipate the extent of Russian society's war fatigue, which is spreading among young people and the middle class in large cities – fueled by long queues for gasoline and diesel, disrupted supply chains for consumer goods, and a “ruined” summer holiday season due to Ukraine’s attacks on Crimea and the Black Sea coast.

The result? A crackdown that has eliminated the last remnants of nominal pluralism. This included banning the quasi-independent Yabloko party and persecution of its candidates following an uptick in support for their antiwar platform. In the Kremlin’s eyes even the most milquetoast opposition was not a risk worth taking.

What will follow after these so-called elections is unlikely to surprise: ever-more repression, including further internet restrictions. The newly empowered State Duma will not hesitate to strike against “internal enemies”, further tightening legislation targeting civil society, independent media, and all dissenting voices. The designation of Memorial, Russia’s oldest human rights organisation, as an “extremist” group earlier this year may have been just a harbinger of things to come. Russia has also shown time and again that it will not stop at its borders when it comes to silencing those in opposition, with transnational repression only set to increase.

Will there be another round of mobilisation in Russia too? We don’t know yet. The infrastructure is in place though and upgraded information sharing networks means that it will not be as easy to avoid this time.

“There is no scenario today that would require it,” Vladimir Putin said regarding a possible mobilisation just before the so-called elections.

Today is not tomorrow, though. And the decision rests with the Kremlin.

18/09/2026

Twelve years on, Crimea is still occupied, but not forgotten.

This week we joined the Crimea Days event in Czechia to hear from human rights defenders and journalists about what occupation in Crimea means today: enforced disappearances and political imprisonment, the militarisation of children, and cultural heritage under erasure.

Crimea Days runs in Prague and Brno until Sunday, 20 September, featuring film screenings, lectures, and a concert of Crimean Tatar music - check out the programme in the comments.

Crimea Days is organised by Human Rights House Crimea with Crimean Process, ZMINA. Центр прав людини, Кримська правозахисна група / Crimean Human Rights Group Крим_ SOS Regional Center for Human Rights and ЦГП "Альменда"/CCE "Almenda" together with People in Need, NESEHNUTÍ, Generation For Ukraine, Crimea Vox, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Czechia.

17/09/2026

“This war is not just about Ukraine; it’s about all of Europe,” argues Lesia Ogryzko. Orgyzko is the co-founder and director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center, a Ukrainian think tank focused on security and defence.

Watch the full interview on YouTube to find out more about the recent study on the potential future scenarios for Russia and the interactive database “The Everywhere War: Sub-Threshold Warfare Tracker,” which documents the scale of Russia's ongoing hybrid operations against Europe.

The boundaries between war and peace, as we have long relied on them, no longer apply today. Moscow has grown more aggressive and is increasingly prepared to take risks with its intelligence and hybrid operations in Europe, steadily eroding security across the continent – whether it’s through acts of sabotage targeting railway infrastructure, drones disrupting major airports, or perilous manoeuvres of its shadow fleet.

Watch the full video on Youtube, link in comments. 👀

16/09/2026

Today, 25 Belarusian political prisoners are finally set free after years in prison – among them prominent journalists and media managers, activists, cultural figures, and their relatives.

While we celebrate their release alongside our Belarusian colleagues, this does not signal meaningful change on the side of Alexander Lukashenko's regime. Rather, this reflects a deepening economic crisis that has pushed him to seek concessions. All of those freed were deported to Lithuania against their will and forced into exile. Repressions continue in Belarus, and more people are being unjustly detained and sentenced for challenging Lukashenko's regime even today.

We call on the international community to stand behind civil society and independent media in Belarus, condemn human rights abuses in the country, push for systemic change, and advocate for the unconditional release of all political prisoners who remain behind bars.

As of today, 886 political prisoners remain imprisoned in Belarus, according to the human rights group Viasna. Conditions in Belarusian penal colonies remain harsh, with forced labour, severe restrictions on contact with the outside world, and reported deaths in custody in recent years.

❗️ Джон Коўл: «25 зняволеных сёння на волі»

Спецпасланнік прэзідэнта ЗША па Беларусі Джон Коўл паведаміў пра вызваленне 25 зняволеных. Яны вывезеныя ў Літву

«25 зняволеных сёння на волі! Прыхільнасць прэзідэнта Трампа да прамой дыпламатыі прыносіць вынікі. Дзякуй прэзідэнту Лукашэнку за гэты крок, а таксама нашым сябрам у Літве за падтрымку», — напісаў Коўл.

Паводле яго, ЗША працягнуць працу над паляпшэннем амерыкана-беларускіх адносін і вызваленнем новых людзей у найбліжэйшай будучыні.

«Мы яшчэ не скончылі!» — дадаў спецпасланнік.