In response to widespread and systematic human rights violations and international crimes committed by Russian authorities, speakers at a Side Event during the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Spring Session 2026 said that we must step up efforts to document these violations and ensure accountability. The event took place on 22 April 2026 at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg, and the main message was that documenting human rights violations now is key to achieving justice in the future.
The speakers outlined ongoing and future activities and initiatives to address the severe human rights situation in the Russian Federation. Although the Russian Federation is no longer a member of the Council of Europe, the country’s dire human rights situation remains a concern in the wider European context, the speakers emphasised. PACE has a long history of combating impunity for serious human rights violations, including in the Russian Federation, and must remain vigilant regarding the country’s internal situation.
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) presented the Accountability Initiative for Russia (AIR), which aims to develop a digital platform to collect, preserve, analyse, and share documentation of human rights violations and international crimes in the Russian Federation and in the Ukrainian territories under temporary Russian control.
“While there are comprehensive efforts by Ukrainian and international actors to document and ensure accountability for Russian war crimes and human rights violations in Ukraine, there is a need to strengthen initiatives in relation to the domestic situation in the Russian Federation,” said Gunnar M. Ekeløve-Slydal, Deputy Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
AIR will build on the work of the Natalia Estemirova Documentation Centre for the North Caucasus (NEDC) while broadening its geographical scope. The future AIR database will cover all of Russia and the territories under Russian control and will be established in close cooperation with Russian and international human rights actors and lawyers.
“We urge PACE Members to lend political support. Now is the time for democratic governments to back accountability initiatives that can help Russia overcome its history of abuse and injustice.”
The well-attended Side Event was sponsored by Eerik-Niiles Kross, Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and a Member of the Estonian delegation to PACE. Speakers included Lise Selnes, Norwegian MP and Chair of the Norwegian delegation to PACE; Vladimir Kara-Murza, Member of the PACE Platform for Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces; Günter Schirmer, former Head of the Secretariat of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights; and Vadim Prokhorov, a prominent Russian human rights lawyer.
Audio recording of the event: