organizations were labelled “foreign agents” or “undesirable organizations”, limiting their participation in public life. The criminal code was also amended to penalize “carrying out activities” of foreign NGOs without registered offices in Russia, effectively criminalizing any forms of cooperation with most civil society groups outside the country. Leading human rights organizations including the Moscow Helsinki Group, Sakharov Centre and Sova Centre were shut down. Belarus closed prominent human rights group Viasna, among scores of other independent civil society organizations, and imprisoned its leading members for years. Kyrgyzstan plumbed new depths when a draft law “On Foreign Representatives”, modelled on Russia’s “foreign agents” law, moved toward adoption and threatened the closure of numerous NGOs. In Moldova, Shansa party members were arbitrarily denied the possibility of standing in local elections. In a rare story of success, widespread public protest in Georgia against a draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence forced its withdrawal. FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY Authorities across the region severely restricted peaceful street protest, already rare or nonexistent in many countries, while large pro-government rallies were held in Russia and elsewhere. Unlawful use of force by law enforcement was a norm. Kyrgyzstan imposed a near blanket ban on peaceful demonstrations in the capital Bishkek and in some regions. Authorities in Belarus and Kazakhstan continued to identify and jail peaceful participants in past protests. Police in Georgia deployed tear gas and water cannons to break up a largely peaceful protest in March. In Turkmenistan, police used unnecessary and disproportionate force to stop protests against bread shortages. Authorities must stop using pretexts to repress dissent and prevent discussion of their human rights records. They must end the harassment and prosecution of critical voices, stop security forces using unlawful force during protests and repeal or amend legislation violating the right to peaceful assembly. FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF Discrimination and reprisals against religious minorities were common across the region. Tajikistan continued with repressive practices against Ismailis including penalizing collective prayer in private homes. Jehovah’s Witnesses were imprisoned for practising their faith in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, and law enforcement authorities targeted Catholic priests in Belarus and those of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (effectively subordinated to the Russian Orthodox Church) in Ukraine. Devout Muslims in Uzbekistan continued to be prosecuted on overly broad and vaguely worded extremism-related charges. Governments must take effective measures to implement legal and policy reforms to fully protect, promote and guarantee freedom of religion or belief without discrimination. TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT In many countries torture and other ill-treatment remained endemic and those suspected of criminal responsibility enjoyed impunity. In Belarus those imprisoned under politically motivated charges faced inhumane conditions, including incommunicado detention and lack of adequate healthcare. In Kazakhstan, five of the six officially acknowledged cases of death caused by torture following protests in January 2022 reached court by the end of 2023, while most others were dropped for alleged lack of evidence. In Moldova detainees continued to suffer overcrowding and unsanitary conditions and poor health provision. In Georgia former president Mikheil Saakashvili was denied release on humanitarian grounds despite severely The State of the World’s Human Rights 51