Report: 1 in 5 national governments crossing borders to silence dissenters

The latest report by Freedom House — an organization that describes itself as a defender of human rights — reveals that more than 20% of the world’s national governments have reached beyond their borders to assassinate, assault, imprison, interrogate and deport dissenters. The analysis found that national governments are reportedly searching the world for political activists, journalists and other foreign nationals in order to silence them.

According to Freedom House, a total of 25 countries are responsible for 125 incidents of “physical transnational repression.” The worst offenders, according to the report, are China, Russia, Turkey, Tajikistan and Egypt. Between 2014 and 2023, the report found that China alone is responsible for 25% of all cases.

In total, Freedom House found 1,034 cases of physical transnational repression. Reuters reported on an incident in 2023, where a Sikh activist in Canada was killed in an alleged assassination plot by the Indian government.

Freedom House also noted another alleged assassination plot that failed in the U.S. against a Sikh activist, as U.S. officials accuse India’s government of being behind the attempt.

Another incident of alleged transnational repression occurred in Spain. According to Reuters, Spanish intelligence believes Russia hired assassins to kill a former Russian helicopter pilot in the country. The former pilot had assumed a false name after defecting to Ukraine amid Russia’s war with the country. In total, Freedom House documents that Russia is accused of at least 18 incidents of physical transnational repression.

Meanwhile, China is accused of targeting nationals abroad, with Chinese officials reportedly threatening dissidents through “police stations” secretly operating in other countries. The FBI reportedly raided one of the outposts in New York City in fall 2023. China reportedly operates around 100 secret police outposts in Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Canada, France and several other countries.

Iran has also been accused of targeting journalists. London police investigated threats against Iran International TV, which forced the station to relocate to Washington, according to Reason.com.

The Freedom House report also indicates that without proactive moves, acts of transnational repression will continue to increase. Freedom House authors urge democracies to create safeguards against advancing surveillance systems used to track journalists and human rights activists by authoritarian governments.

Advocates want the U.S. and other countries to create a licensing system to identify countries targeting dissidents abroad and to train law enforcement to recognize transnational repression.