“Faced with new challenges from the collapse of global energy prices, Russian President Vladimir Putin maintained a policy of repression at home, including the persecution of LGBT activists and independent journalists, as well as military intervention abroad,” the report says. Those who disagree with the actions of the authorities, like...

Over the past decade, Russia has shown the greatest departure from democratic standards. This is stated in a new report by the US-based nongovernmental organization Freedom House The researchers also point out that other authoritarian states have resorted to drastic steps to block the formation of new democracies anywhere in Europe ...