What is Transnational Repression?
Transnational repression (TNR) refers to the ways in which authoritarian states extend intimidation, surveillance, and coercion beyond their borders to target people living abroad—often political opponents, activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and diaspora communities.
TNR does not rely only on overt violence. It frequently operates through a spectrum of tactics, including online harassment and threats, stalking, intimidation at public events, infiltration of community or digital spaces, and pressure on family members who remain in the country of origin. These practices can create a strong “chilling effect”, leading individuals to self-censor, withdraw from public life, or avoid reporting abuses out of fear of repercussions.
A key feature of transnational repression is its use of legal and administrative tools—such as extradition requests or the misuse of international cooperation mechanisms—to restrict a person’s freedom of movement and keep them in prolonged uncertainty, even when allegations are framed as ordinary criminal matters. This “grey-zone” character can make TNR particularly difficult to detect and counter.
Why it matters
Because it targets people seeking safety and exercising fundamental freedoms, transnational repression is not only a security concern—it is a human rights and rule-of-law challenge. Countering TNR requires stronger awareness, better coordination among relevant actors, and effective pathways for prevention, reporting, and protection—so that democratic societies do not become inadvertent enablers of persecution carried out across borders.
TNR practices have direct consequences for fundamental rights, access to justice, civic participation, and the safety of individuals and communities at risk.
FIDU’s campaign
FIDU has launched a dedicated campaign to raise awareness, strengthen protection pathways, and support coordinated responses among institutions, legal professionals, and civil society.
This campaign also builds on the work of the Tackling TNR Europe Civil Society Working Group, a collaborative initiative in which FIDU participates. Through structured dialogue with European Union institutions and the United Nations, the Working Group aims to map emerging trends in transnational repression, strengthen institutional responses, and advance coordinated policies to counter TNR—also by engaging key actors such as the European Parliament, the European External Action Service, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The activities brings together research, public outreach, and engagement with key stakeholders to make TNR visible, to document its impact, and to promote effective safeguards and accountability.
Advocacy and policy engagement
OSCE (ODIHR): As part of our advocacy to counter transnational repression, FIDU contributes to policy engagement at the OSCE level in partnership with the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR). In October 2025, FIDU participated in the side event “Repression Without Borders? Confronting Transnational Repression in Europe” during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, bringing together legal and civil society expertise to discuss practical responses across the OSCE region. Building on this dialogue, the partners published a policy paper outlining concrete recommendations for OSCE institutions and participating States—including the creation of a dedicated OSCE working group on transnational repression, the appointment of an ODIHR focal point, stronger safeguards against the misuse of international police/judicial cooperation tools, and more victim-centred prevention and protection measures, including on digital forms of TNR.
Council of Europe: FIDU is among the civil society organisations that have signed a joint appeal calling for a dedicated Council of Europe Convention on Transnational Repression. The appeal urges Council of Europe Member States to recognise TNR as a systemic threat to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, and to adopt a binding instrument that would define TNR, set clear obligations for prevention and victim protection, and strengthen safeguards against the misuse of cross-border legal mechanisms—such as extradition requests and Interpol notices.
Research and publications
FIDU and IPHR have jointly published a report, “Domestic Capacity to Address Transnational Repression: Italy,” assessing how Italy responds to transnational repression (TNR) perpetrated by the Russian Federation on Italian soil.
The report, authored by Eleonora Mongelli, Alessandra Tursi, and Vincenzo Vitulli, examines the effectiveness of Italy’s legal and policy frameworks in protecting individuals targeted by Russian authorities. It focuses on how repressive tactics—both formal and covert—are deployed across borders to silence dissent, intimidate exiles, and restrict the activities of political opponents and activists.
The report aims to assess Italy’s capacity to address transnational repression perpetrated by the Russian Federation, focusing on its effectiveness in protecting dissidents and countering repressive tactics deployed across borders. Specifically, it evaluates Italy’s legal and policy frameworks to identify key gaps that hinder the protection of individuals targeted by Russian authorities. Through interviews with victims and experts, the report presents real-life cases of TNR in Italy, offering a deeper understanding of the tactics (both official and covert) employed, how they manifest in practice, and the challenges faced by authorities, institutions, and civil society in addressing them. The report concludes with a series of actionable recommendations designed to enhance Italy’s response to TNR, improve victim protection, and strengthen institutional and civil society coordination in line with international human rights standards.
Watch here the press conference held by FIDU and IPHR at the Italian Senate
Watch here the public hearing by FIDU and IPHR at the Italian Chamber of Deputies