Paper found in a search can become evidence: keep it carefully.
Draft What human rights defenders advise
Designations of organisations in this guide: Reforum Help (undesirable). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
current as of 26 September 2026. More: First Department: guide for journalists in Russia (foreign agent); First Department: why a journalist needs a press card (foreign agent)
Shows those who help where you are now. The choice works only on your screen.
Emergency support for human rights defenders at risk: protection grants, secure contact, publicity and advocacy after detention.
For people targeted for peaceful human rights work, including activists and journalists.
Other ways to reach them: protection grants
Supports freelance journalists: pays for therapy (Therapy Fund), emergency assistance and safety. Has a Russian-language page.
For freelancers only, not staff journalists.
Other ways to reach them: info@rorypecktrust.org
A Dutch foundation gives free emergency help to journalists, fixers and bloggers when the threat is linked to their work: lawyer and court costs, medical care, psychological support, replacement equipment, living costs and help for the family. In urgent cases support can come within 24 hours.
The threat must be confirmed by two independent sources; help is one-off, not ongoing. The form is in English, Spanish, French and Arabic. From Russia or Belarus, fill it in on a device that keeps no trace of the conversation.
Other ways to reach them: reportersrespond@freepressunlimited.org · about the programme
A UK organisation gives free legal defence help to journalists, bloggers, photographers, fact-checkers and outlets prosecuted or sued over their reporting. It pays for or finds a lawyer and takes cases up to the European Court of Human Rights and the UN.
Legal help only, no living costs. The journalist, their lawyer, family or a support organisation can apply; the form is available in Russian. If you have no lawyer yet, write to info@mediadefence.org first.
Other ways to reach them: info@mediadefence.org
A Swedish foundation, free of charge, fights off DDoS attacks, cleans hacked websites, provides secure hosting, does digital forensics, checks phones for spyware and helps get around blocking.
They help independent media, investigative journalists, human rights activists and NGOs; people without such work may be turned down. They do not clean personal computers. Reply within 24 hours, communication in English.
Other ways to reach them: about the service
The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom gives threatened journalists up to 6 months of respite in Leipzig: a free flat, 1,000 euros a month, health insurance, travel, visa costs and a psychologist. Residents of Russia and Belarus can apply directly.
You need an application form, a CV and two reference letters from human rights or media organisations. This is a temporary residency, not asylum. The centre's legal support (legal@ecpmf.eu) is only for people working in European countries.
Other ways to reach them: legal support: legal@ecpmf.eu · legal support: terms
One-off grants for journalists in trouble because of their work: for a lawyer, medical care, urgent departure and the first period in exile. The amounts are small.
Download the application form from the fund's page and send it with supporting documents to the IFJ office in Brussels. The Russian Union of Journalists is not a channel: apply directly; Belarusians can apply via BAJ.
Other ways to reach them: ifj@ifj.org · +32 2 235 22 00 (IFJ office) (a call stays in the phone log and with the operator)
Lawyers for treason, espionage, state secrets and extremism cases, including closed trials. Advice on digital security.
The only official bot is @deptonebot. It never asks for money or SMS codes.
Other ways to reach them: website · info@dept.one
Legal aid for journalists, bloggers and photographers under pressure.
Other ways to reach them: mail@mmdc.ru · hotline bot @MmdcHelpBot
Free psychologists and lawyers for forced emigrants: migration and visas, taxes, civil law, humanitarian residence; groups and seminars. Psychologists work in Russian and Belarusian.
A Reforum project of the Free Russia Foundation, designated 'undesirable' in Russia. If you travel to Russia, contacting an 'undesirable' organisation or joining its events can lead to prosecution, so check with a lawyer. Separately, Reforum Space Paris has also been 'undesirable' since July 2026, and the Reforum Space Vilnius community has been a 'foreign agent' since May 2026. In-person meetings in Paris and Vilnius carry extra risk.
Last signs of activity: October 2025. Before writing, check on the organisation's own site that it still works.
Free grants of up to 5,000 US dollars for urgent digital protection for human rights defenders, journalists and activists: replacing seized or stolen equipment, secure systems, circumventing blocking, help after attacks. Unregistered groups can apply too.
Languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese; others on request by email. A reply can take up to two weeks, so this is not instant help. The fund is run by the Dutch organisation Hivos.
Other ways to reach them: team@digitaldefenders.org
In Russia, lawyers are found by First Department (foreign agent) and Solidarity Zone (foreign agent). Lawyers abroad known for defending political cases: list of lawyers →