GENEVA, June 17, 2026 — The Russian government has imposed a permanent entry ban on UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer, placing him on a list of 103 Canadian citizens sanctioned by Moscow for what it described as involvement in “anti-Russian activities.”
The announcement was made yesterday by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which accused those named of “discrediting the constitutional order and foreign policy” of Russia and of activities “aimed at the unlawful confiscation of sovereign Russian state assets.”
Those blacklisted along with Neuer include Canadian cabinet ministers, senators, MPs, the defence chief and Canada’s former ambassador to Russia, William Westdal.
Neuer, a Canadian citizen and international human rights advocate, led the campaign to expel Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, and works closely with Russian dissidents to fight abuses by the Putin regime.
UN Watch, an independent non-governmental human rights organization based in Switzerland, which leads the 25-NGO coalition that holds the annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, has campaigned for the freedom of imprisoned Russian dissidents, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, hosted democracy leaders such as Garry Kasparov and family members of Alexei Navalny, and amplified the voices of Ukrainian victims of Russian aggression. (Click here to see UN Watch’s action for human rights in Russia.)
Over two decades, Neuer has often taken the floor at the United Nations to challenge Russia’s human rights record.
Neuer was recently honored in Canada with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, for making an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
“Badge of Honor”
“Being banned by Vladimir Putin’s regime is not a punishment, but a badge of honor,” said Neuer. “Russia is one of the world’s leading jailers of political opponents, a serial violator of human rights, and the aggressor in a brutal war against Ukraine. If speaking out for freedom, democracy, and human rights earns me a place on the Kremlin’s blacklist, then I accept it proudly.”
“Russia can add my name to whatever list it wants. It won’t change the facts, and it won’t change our work,” said Neuer. “The Kremlin’s blacklist is not a deterrent. It only motivates us to keep fighting the Kremlin’s repression. We will continue standing with Russian dissidents, exposing human rights abuses, speaking for the victims of Russia’s aggression.”
Russia Lashes Out Over Ukraine
Russia’s statement lashed out at Canada’s “political elite” for its “hostile line” and “denying Russia’s rights and interests,“ and condemned Ottawa for “interference in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation.” supporting “the neo-Nazi authorities in Kyiv,” and “encouragement of the Kyiv junta to commit terrorist acts.”
Neuer dismissed the Kremlin’s allegations. “Russia’s rulers fear scrutiny because they cannot defend their record,” said Neuer. “From the murder of political opponents to the imprisonment of dissidents, from the bombardment of Ukrainian cities to systematic repression at home, the Kremlin has built a system sustained by force, censorship, and intimidation.”
Neuer joins a long list of human rights defenders, journalists, lawmakers, democratic leaders and celebrities who have been blacklisted or sanctioned by Moscow for criticizing the regime, including Senator John McCain, Garry Kasparov, Bill Browder, Anthony Blinken, Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn, and Ben Stiller.
“History teaches that authoritarian governments often target their critics abroad when they cannot silence them at home,” he said. “The proper response is not silence, but more truth-telling.”
“Russia can bar me from entering its territory,” said Neuer. “It cannot bar us from exposing injustice. UN Watch will continue to speak out for the victims of tyranny, whether in Moscow, Tehran, Beijing, Caracas, or anywhere else.”
Founded in 1993, UN Watch is a Geneva-based independent human rights organization that monitors the performance of the United Nations according to the principles of its Charter.
Background: Why Russia Sanctioned UN Watch’s Hillel Neuer
Following are a selection of Hillel Neuer’s interventions for human rights and democracy in Russia, as presented at the United Nations and in the media, which preceded his being blacklisted by the Kremlin for “anti-Russian” activities.
Led Successful Campaign To Expel Russia from U.N. Human Rights Council
CNN breaking news with John Berman interviews Hillel Neuer, April 4, 2022:
Hillel Neuer, U.N. Watch: For God’s sake, Russia cannot be a member of the United Nations’ highest human rights body… Countries that commit gross and systematic abuses can be removed. And in 2010, we campaigned to remove Gadhafi’s Libyan regime. And that succeeded after Gadhafi launched a war against his own people. We’ve now launched the same campaign against Russia. We’ve drafted a resolution. But we need a member state to introduce it.
Berman: What has been the reaction so far from the United Nations and officials there?
Neuer: Well, sadly, and I would say strangely, when the spokesperson of the United Nations secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, was asked last week about this, he said that they have a certain level of concern about our campaign. And he said — and there was 12 U.S. senators that wrote a letter to the U.S. ambassador, calling for her to take action — and the U.N. chief said there’s a certain level of concern. And he said it would “set a dangerous precedent.”
Now, this is a very strange thing. The U.N. chief is not supposed to get involved. It’s a member state issue. And for them to say it’s a dangerous precedent, we think it’s dangerous to let a government, a regime that is slaughtering innocent people, as we’ve seen on these terrible images from Bucha, that has launched aggression against the U.N. member state, causing millions of people to leave their homes, we think it’s dangerous to have them sitting on the U.N.’s top human rights body.
UN Debate: Called Out Russian Assassination of Journalists, Persecution of Dissidents, Military Invasions
Speech delivered by Hillel Neuer to the United Nations Human Rights Council, June 27, 2018
Hillel Neuer, U.N. Watch: Mr. President, we reject the attempt by brutal regimes to use the United Nations to corrupt the language and idea of human rights.
Indeed, regular people around the world ask: “Why does a human rights council include so many non-democracies?”
Defenders of the system have a ready reply: “We need a big tent,” they say, “so that countries with poor records can engage, learn and improve.”
Well, perhaps nations with spotty records, but who actually wish to make progress, can be embraced and given technical cooperation, for example, to train their judges or police.
But does the UN have to keep electing the world’s worst abusers, dictatorships whose only intent is to win a false badge of international legitimacy?
I ask all those here who propagate the “big tent” theory: Since Vladimir Putin’s Russia was elected again and again to this Council, over a decade, did he learn and improve? Or on the contrary, did Russia assassinate more journalists, persecute more dissidents and launch more deadly military invasions than ever before?
Since China was elected repeatedly to this Council, did the Communist rulers learn and improve? Or did they crush more dissidents, like Liu Xiaobo, than ever before?
And I want to know: Since Venezuela was elected and reelected to this Council, did Chavez and Maduro learn and improve? Or did they arrest, persecute and jail more opposition leaders, like Mayor Antonio Ledezma of Caracas?
UNHRC President: Point of order from Venezuela.
Venezuela: It is unacceptable in this Human Rights Council for an NGO to use offensive language which is not allowed by the regulations of the United Nations. We launch an appeal for proper language to be used when referring to the honor of our political leaders. My country respects freedom of expression but this cannot be understood as giving permission or carte blanche to demonize any country. The Human Rights Council is a forum for promoting dialogue and not confrontation. Abusive and offensive language towards my country, and towards the political leaders in my country, we do not tolerate. President, we hope that you will call this speaker to order.
UNHRC President: Thank you very much. I would like to call on everyone to adhere to a language that is commensurate with the dignity inherent to the discussion of human rights issues. Tolerance and respect should be the key words of the work of this Council. With this in mind, I give back the floor to the speaker.
Hillel Neuer: What is offensive is that Venezuela kills protesters and uses this Council as carte blanche to cover up their abuses. “Big tent,” Mr. President? No: Big lie.
UN Intervention: Spoke Out For Russian Prisoners of Conscience Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara Murza
Speech delivered by Hillel Neuer to the United Nations Human Rights Council, March 23, 2023:
Hillel Neuer, U.N. Watch: Thank you Mr President. We’ve been listening to numerous countries telling us how much they care about human rights, but as we work closely with victims, including families of political prisoners, we wish to pose some questions. We ask Russia: If you really care about human rights, why do you imprison the leaders of your democratic opposition, Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara Murza? Both were targeted in the past by near fatal poisonings. Why are you subjecting them to conditions in which their health is rapidly deteriorating?
UN Debate: Called Out Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s Lies Defending Putin’s War on Ukraine
Speech delivered by Hillel Neuer to the United Nations Human Rights Council, March 4, 2022:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: It is precisely the policy of the collective west, led by Washington, that has led to the Kiev regime going to wage war against its own people since 2014, against all those who don’t agree with the neo-Nazi values of the Maidan, with the criminal policies of the Ukrainian authorities.
All these massive and systematic attacks on the rights and freedoms, and the consistent dissemination of neo-nazism, are carried out with the open connivance of the United States, Canada, and the European Union. Russia could not remain indifferent.
The purpose of our action is to save these people and to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine. As President Putin has repeatedly stressed, we have an unwavering respect for the Ukrainian people, their language and traditions. We do not intend in any way to infringe on the interests of the citizens of Ukraine.
The role of the UN Human Rights Council is to promote a mutually respectful debate without any politicization or double standards, and to ensure that human rights issues are not used to interfere in internal affairs
UNHRC President: United Nations Watch has the floor.
Hillel Neuer, U.N. Watch: Mr. President, we welcome this urgent meeting on Russia’s aggression against the people of Ukraine.
On the 24th of February, the Ukrainian Ambassador requested this council to meet “as urgently as possible.” Now, in other, past situations, the council convened within a day. Why this time, on Russian aggression, did it wait a full week? For the men, women and children under attack, every day of delay by the international community is lethal.
This Council just heard from the Russian Foreign Minister. He said President Putin has “an unwavering respect for the Ukrainian people,” and that “we do not intend in any way to infringe on the interests of the citizens of Ukraine.”
Mr. President, the opposite is true.
The truth is that Russian forces invaded Ukraine, in flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.
The truth is that Russian forces are bombing cities indiscriminately, killing and wounding innocent civilians, a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
The truth is that Russia’s assault on Ukraine has turned more than half a million people to flee their homes for neighboring countries, killed an estimated 2,000 people, and injured many more. The truth is that Russia is committing war crimes.
And so question before us today is this: Will the international community defend the rules-based international order?
Dictators around the world are watching. If they see that Russia succeeds in its wanton aggression, they will draw the lesson—that anything goes. We will see more invasions, more tyrannies attacking their neighbors, and more terrorism.
The whole world is watching.
Are the United Nations and this Council prepared to defend international peace and basic human rights, and to oppose aggression on a scale unseen in Europe since World War II? Will they uphold their responsibility to defend the rules-based international order?
Let us consider. Two years ago, despite our urgent appeals not to do it, the United Nations elected Russia as a member of this Human Rights Council.
This violated the Council’s own rules. Members are obliged to uphold the highest standards of human rights. Mr. President, does this Council believe that Russia’s bombing of civilians in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities and towns across Ukraine upholds the highest standards of human rights?
Under the Council’s rules, members can be removed on account of gross and systematic violations of human rights.
Therefore, if this council is serious about human rights, here’s what it must do:
1: Remove Russia from the Council immediately.
2: Adopt a resolution on the situation of human rights within Russia itself.
3: Establish an independent monitor to protect courageous Russian dissidents, such as Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Muzra, both of whom were poisoned.
4: Abolish the mandate of this Council known as the Special Rapporteur on Unilateral Coercive Measures, the purpose of which is to define sanctions against Russia and other dictatorships as illegal.
5: Demand the High Commissioner and independent experts speak out against the crimes in Ukraine.
Mr. President, the people of Ukraine are under assault. The world is watching. The time to act is now. Thank you.
UN Intervention: Introduced a Resolution to Remove Russia from the UN Human Rights Council
Speech delivered by Hillel Neuer to the United Nations Human Rights Council, March 22, 2022:
Hillel Neuer, U.N. Watch: Mr. President, we reject this attempt by the world’s most brutal regimes to use the United Nations to corrupt the language and idea of human rights.
Indeed, regular people around the world ask: why does a Human Rights Council include so many non-democracies? Defenders of the system have a ready reply — “we need a big tent,” they say, so that countries with poor records can engage, learn, and improve.
Well, perhaps nations with spotty records, but who actually wish to make progress, can be embraced and given technical cooperation, for example to train their judges or police.
But does the UN have to keep electing the world’s worst abusers — dictatorships whose only intent is to win a false badge of international legitimacy?
We ask all those who propagate the big tent theory: Since Vladimir Putin’s Russia was elected again and again to this council over a decade and a half, did he learn and improve? Or on the contrary, did Russia only assassinate more journalists, poison more dissidents, and launch more deadly military invasions than ever before?
Mr. President, we hereby request that this council adopt a resolution under paragraph 8 of resolution 60/251, calling on the General Assembly to remove Russia as a member of this council. Our proposed text, which we circulated to delegates, can be found at unwatch.org. Thank you, Mr. President.
UN Intervention: Spoke on Behalf of 25 NGOs Demanding Russia Release Vladimir Kara-Murza
Speech delivered by Hillel Neuer to the United Nations Human Rights Council, May 12, 2022:
Hillel Neuer, U.N. Watch: Mr. President, we deliver this statement on behalf of a cross-regional civil society coalition, as listed at www.unwatch.org/FreeKaraMurza.
Russia’s war on Ukraine will stop when Russians are able to express their opposition.
That is why we hereby call on Secretary-General Guterres and High Commissioner Bachelet to speak out and demand that Russia release all prisoners of conscience whose only crime was opposing this war.
One of these prisoners is my friend Vladimir Kara-Murza, a brilliant author, historian and filmmaker, also one of Russia’s most prominent opposition politicians.
His close associate, opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, was assassinated in Moscow in 2015.
Because of his dissent, Vladimir himself was poisoned and went into a coma. Not once, but twice, in 2015 and 2017.
Despite the dangers, Vladimir stays in Russia, refusing to give up his fight for democracy. “In Russia,” he said, “the biggest gift that opponents of the regime could give the Kremlin would be to leave. This is what they want from us.”
And now he is once again paying the price.
On April 11th, Vladimir was arrested outside his Moscow home after a CNN interview where he criticized the Kremlin’s aggression. He was sentenced to 15 days in prison. Then, on April 22nd, Vladimir was prosecuted under a draconian new law that criminalizes the spreading of so-called fake information about the military.
Mr. President, Vladimir is being arbitrarily detained for exercising his basic right to freedom of expression.
When will High Commissioner Bachelet speak out? Thank you.
Campaign Video: Called Out the UN’s Failure to Act Against Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Statement by Hillel Neuer outside the Palais des Nations, February 24, 2022:
Hillel Neuer, U.N. Watch: We expect the United Nations’ top human rights body, which is right behind me, to be taking urgent and compelling action, to do whatever it can to send the message to Moscow that the international community refuses to be silent in the face of its trampling of universal human rights. Sadly, the UN Human Rights Council, a 47-nation body, has done absolutely nothing so far in response to Russia’s aggression. There have been zero urgent sessions, there have been zero resolutions, and there have been zero commissions of inquiry.
[…] We are calling for action. Here’s what we’re calling for: there is a minority of democracies on the Human Rights Council — the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands — they can convene an emergency session, they can do that today, they only need 16 countries. We’re calling for an urgent session to condemn Russia’s military assault on Ukraine, gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, to create a commission of inquiry to hold Vladimir Putin to account under international law.
And we’re calling for something else. We’re calling finally for the United Nations — and this will be the General Assembly — to take action to expel Vladimir Putin from the Human Rights Council. Russia never should have been elected. We lobbied against it. We were with Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was poisoned twice by the Russian regime, and we lobbied against Russia being elected. Sadly, no one in Europe said a single thing — Russia was elected to the Human Rights Council. They need to be expelled.
