Russians who oppose the war are prosecuted, fired, or threatened with conscription - independent monitors have recorded over 20,000 detentions and 1,181 criminal cases for anti-war speech since 2022. The Ark provides free legal defense, psychological care, and emergency shelter to these exiles - doctors, teachers, engineers, scientists - across 49 countries. Since 2022, we've delivered 170,000+ legal consultations, 14,000+ therapy sessions, and housed over 4,500 people.
Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, authorities have prosecuted thousands of Russians for anti-war speech. Independent monitors (OVD-Info) have recorded 1,181 criminal cases and over 20,000 detentions for anti-war expression, plus 966 documented cases of extrajudicial pressure - job loss, raids, conscription threats. Those affected include doctors, teachers, engineers and scientists who flee with no support network. The Ark serves these exiles in more than 49 countries.
The Ark provides free legal consultations on asylum, residency and travel documents; individual and group psychological support for trauma and relocation stress; emergency housing for new arrivals; career retraining and language courses; and advocacy with EU governments on migration policy. Since 2022, this has meant 170,000+ legal consultations, 14,000+ therapy sessions, and emergency housing for more than 4,500 people who arrived abroad with nothing.
With stable legal status, mental health support and job skills, the more than 4,500 people who have received emergency housing move from crisis to self-sufficiency - working, integrating, and rebuilding careers in their host countries instead of depending on ongoing aid. This sustains a global community of politically active Russians who keep civil society and a democratic vision for Russia's future alive.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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