Established democracies are under attack from authoritarian regimes.
Authoritarian regimes cross borders and repress refugees living in democratic countries.
Freedom House has published a few reports (linked below) on the topic of transnational authoritarianism.
Freedom House lists six countries that currently operate aggressive campaigns of transnational repression:
The People's Republic of China
The People's Republic of China has opened secret Chinese police stations within Western countries
is order to pursue, monitor and put pressure on Chinese refugees living abroad.
The PRC routinely harasses family members who still live in China.
The authorities of Hong Kong have started adopting similar tactics
in order to force pro-democracy Hong Kong dissidents to return home to face recriminations.
2022 report on transnational repression by Freedom House with 2023 update.
Critical voices that challenge authoritarian rule become voices to silence.
Journalists and human rights defenders. Diaspora groups and family members of exiles.
Political activists, dissidents and civil society leaders.
What appear to be isolated incidents when viewed separately—an assassination here, a kidnapping there—in fact form
a constant threat across the world that is affecting the lives of millions of people
and changing how activists, journalists, and regular individuals go about their lives.
Transnational repression is no longer an exceptional tool, but a normal and institutionalized practice
for dozens of countries that seek to control their citizens abroad.
The report includes:
- List of perpetrating countries.
- List of targeted countries.
- Case studies.
- Policy response with best and worst practices in term of security policy, migration policy, and foreign policy.
[2022 article] If exiled dissidents can be attacked even in the strongest democracies, none of us are safe.
Transnational authoritarianism represents any effort to prevent acts of political dissent against an authoritarian state
by targeting one or more existing or potential members of its emigrant or diaspora communities.
The Declaration of Principles to Combat Transnational Repression calls upon democratic governments
to acknowledge and commit to addressing the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of transnational repression,
whereby states reach across borders to harm, intimidate, and silence journalists, activists, dissidents, and diaspora communities.
Transnational repression is a threat to democracy and human rights worldwide.
It undermines the rule of law, imperils civil and political liberties, and spreads authoritarianism.
Combatting transnational repression requires ending impunity for perpetrators, strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions,
and protecting vulnerable groups and individuals.
Includes recommendations for: The United States and other governments of countries that host exiles,
targeted diaspora, civil society, UN member states, technology companies.
Policy recommendations include:
- Raising awareness about the threat of transnational repression
- Limiting the ability of perpetrators to commit transnational repression
- Bringing accountability for acts of transnational repression
- Supporting victims of transnational repression
- Track transnational repression and coordinate responses
[April 6, 2023] Perpetrators from a total of 20 states were responsible
for 79 incidents of physical transnational repression last year,
including the first documented cases originating in Djibouti and Bangladesh.
A statement for the record from Freedom House for the Congressional-Executive Commission on China's hearing on Transnational Repression.
Human rights groups published reports stating that
the Chinese government used "overseas service station" to intimidate Chinese dissidents and criminal suspects abroad
and to pressure them to return to China. The report led to investigations of the stations by the governments of several countries.
List of people confirmed to have been assassinated by governments of the Soviet Union and Russian Federation.
Some of the assassinations or targeted killings took place overseas.