Russia, Belarus Release Report on UK’s Human Rights Record

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Moscow accuses London of hypocrisy, racism, and military abuses in Afghanistan and Kenya

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

NEW DELHI, July 11, 2025 — The Russian and Belarusian foreign ministries have jointly released a blistering report accusing the United Kingdom of systemic human rights violations, calling out what they claim is London’s “self-appointed and undeserved mantle” as a global defender of human rights.

In the report titled “On the Human Rights Situation in the UK”, both governments condemned British domestic and international conduct, pointing to alleged racism, xenophobia, neo-Nazi sympathies, military atrocities, and colonial legacy denial as persistent and worsening issues.

The joint report, while politically charged, appears aimed at turning the spotlight back on London amid persistent Western criticism of human rights violations in Russia and Belarus. The document spans wide-ranging allegations, from the treatment of minorities to historical injustices and military operations abroad.

Domestic Accusations: Racism, Hate Crimes, and Press Repression

The report accuses UK institutions of entrenched systemic racism, especially targeting people of African descent within law enforcement and the justice system. The rights of Roma and Traveller communities are described as “widely violated,” and the governments highlight a “surge in hate crimes” linked to Islamophobia and antisemitism.

Among the most pointed claims is the UK’s handling of immigration and asylum. Russia and Belarus sharply criticized Britain’s controversial “Rwanda deportation scheme”, calling it an affront to refugee rights and a violation of international asylum protocols.

The rise of Russophobia, categorized in the report as a “form of xenophobia,” is also cited as evidence of growing intolerance—particularly in light of London’s robust support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.

Julian Assange Case Cited as Political Persecution

The joint report singles out the case of Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, as a “resonant example of political persecution.” It claims that the legal process against Assange violated freedom of expression and the right to information, and that British courts acted under political pressure from Washington.

Colonial Legacy: Compensation Demands and Historical Denial

The document delves into Britain’s colonial history, alleging that London continues to downplay or evade responsibility for its imperial past. Russian officials noted that successive British leaders, including David Cameron and Rishi Sunak, have refused to apologize or pay reparations for colonial-era crimes, including slavery.

The report draws a historical thread, linking 19th-century labour exports by figures like John Gladstone, father of former British PM William Gladstone, to present-day international image damage.

Military Crimes: Afghanistan and Kenya Under Spotlight

In one of its most serious sections, the report cites media investigations and witness testimonies alleging that British Special Air Service (SAS) units conducted extrajudicial killings of unarmed Afghan civilians, including teenagers, between 2010 and 2013.

A unit identified as UKSF1 is said to have employed “indiscriminate tactics” during night raids, while oversight and accountability mechanisms were allegedly ignored.

The report also references repeated allegations of misconduct by British military personnel in Kenya, including:

Sexual harassment and assault,
Mishandling of ammunition,
Use of toxic chemicals during training by the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).

The British government has not officially responded to the joint report. However, previous criticism from Moscow and Minsk has been dismissed by London as part of geopolitical propaganda campaigns, especially in the wake of intensified Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Belarus’ internal repression.

The release of the report comes at a sensitive time. The UK is preparing for high-level diplomatic engagement in the Indo-Pacific and facing growing questions at home over immigration, military accountability, and legacy colonial issues—many of which the Kremlin appears keen to exploit.

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