A/HRC/60/62 allegedly claimed that Mr. Sokolov was part of a foreign intelligence network. (AL RUS 5/2024) 108. On 6 July 2024, the Leninskiy District Court of Yekaterinburg authorized the administrative detention of Mr. Sokolov, and, two days later, ordered his pre-trial detention until 1 September 2024. The investigation found that Mr. Sokolov had posted materials which were described as discrediting the penitentiary system, and that he had publicly displayed from October to December 2023a social media logo, which is prohibited.. Mr. Sokolov had reportedly been the first to disclose a video showing the severe beating of a detainee, which was reportedly then publicly circulated (AL RUS 5/2024). 109. On 26 July 2024, mandate holders raised concerns that Mr. Sokolov had been subjected to reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations. They highlighted the potential deterrent effect this could have on others who may want to engage with United Nationshuman rights mechanisms and called on the authorities to end intimidation and reprisals against those who seek to cooperate with United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms.44 110. On 8 January 2025, mandate holders welcomed the 4 January 2025 release of Mr. Sokolov from pre-trial detention. They emphasized that Mr. Sokolov should not have been deprived of his liberty in the first place and urged that all charges against him be dropped.45 111. In another instance, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation reported to the Human Rights Council that the designation of the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia as “extremist” may constitute a possible reprisal for its cooperation with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other human rights mechanisms (A/HRC/57/59 para 134-135). She further reported that reprisals were used as another way to attack civil society and that many Russian civil society members had sought anonymity when engaging with her, citing fear of intimidation and reprisals from the Government (A/HRC/57/59, para 131). 112. During the reporting period, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention reported having received allegations of reprisals and/or intimidation against Mr. Alexey Gorinov, emphasizing that any such acts were absolutely unacceptable and calling for an immediate end to them (A/HRC/57/44 para 30). Following the adoption by the Working Group of a decision on 16 November 2022 that found his detention to be arbitrary (A/HRC/WGAD/2022/78), the authorities reportedly increased punitive measures against Mr. Gorinov. In February 2023, Mr. Gorinov had been subjected to a special administrative procedure for people assessed to be “prone to escaping”, pursuant to which he had to report to and be checked by prison guards every two hours and admit that he was “prone to escaping”, including at night. Additionally, Mr. Gorinov was placed in isolation from 7 September to 25 October 2023. At the end of September 2023, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Vladimir region initiated a second criminal case against Mr. Gorinov on charges related to terrorism (A/HRC/57/44 para 30). 113. Reportedly, Mr. Gorinov is being held in the Krayevoy Tuberculosis Hospital in Balnaul, Altai Krai, where he is undergoing medical examinations due to continued deterioration of his health. 114. According to information received by OHCHR in another instance, during the reporting period, invitations extended to a civil society representative from the Russian Federation to participate in two United Nations events in the Asia Pacific region were reportedly withdrawn following the alleged involvement of a State actor from the Russian Federation. This followed incidents in connection with the representative’s previous role and participation in a previous regional United Nations event. Names and details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of reprisals for their cooperation with the United Nations. 115. In October 2024, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 57/20 on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, which expressed concern that legislative measures were being used by the authorities against Russian civil society, human rights defenders and 44 https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/07/russia-must-free-human-rights-defender-alexeysokolov-arrested-posting. See also, A/HRC/57/59, para 135. 45 https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2025/01/russia-must-drop-charges-againsthuman-rights-defender-alexey. 34