Inside Geneva – "Are Democracies Copying Russia's Repressive Playbook?"

Podcast: Inside Geneva
Host: Imogen Foulkes
Air Date: October 14, 2025
Produced by: SWI swissinfo.ch

Overview

This episode of Inside Geneva, hosted by Imogen Foulkes, examines the wave of authoritarian tactics spreading from Russia to democratic countries. Using the latest UN human rights report on Russia as a springboard, the show convenes leading writers, journalists, and UN officials to discuss the erosion of press freedom, suppression of protest, the manipulation of history, and the warning signs of creeping authoritarianism in democracies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Russia’s Repressive "Handbook" and Its Export

• Mariana Katsarova (UN Special Rapporteur on Russia):
  • Russia operates a "state sponsored system of fear and punishment" erasing dissent and dismantling civic space ([02:48]).
  • Russian authorities are "trying to rewrite history, to annihilate historical memory"—especially about Soviet-era crimes and dissent ([03:41]).
  • The "indoctrination" and manipulation extends to youth via institutionalized propaganda in schools to reshape the outlook of the young ([04:36]).
• Katsarova’s Warning: The techniques for repression used in Russia—the so-called "handbook"—are being picked up by leaders in democratic countries ([00:26], [21:23], [23:14]).

2. The Erosion of Free Speech in Democracies

• The episode frequently compares Russia’s suppression of speech to worrying trends in western democracies.
• Boris Akunin (Exiled Russian Writer):
  • Defines Russia’s "foreign agent" law as a tool to brand and exclude dissident voices, noting its arbitrary designation and career-ruining impact ([06:35]).
  • Expresses concern at similar methods appearing in democracies: "I'm watching now closely what's happening in the United States with closing of these programs... Because this is how it starts" ([01:35], [26:09]).
• Irene Khan (UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression):
  • Highlights how the playbook for silencing the media is spreading: "Go after the media if you want to stay in power. What is happening now is that more and more countries, we see an authoritarian trend..." ([01:14], [16:42]).
  • Points to media ownership concentration, use of strategic lawsuits against journalists, and political pressure on outlets as symptoms in Europe and the US ([18:56]).

3. Dangers of Historical Amnesia and Indoctrination

• Katsarova discusses the Russian strategy of erasing uncomfortable parts of history (gulags, Stalinist repression) and combining it with the indoctrination of youth to justify the present war and label dissenters as "enemies" ([04:36]).
• Svetlana Alekseyevich echoes: "We were thinking, well, nothing bad is really happening around us... And yet nobody is really taking it serious enough to work with young people... Now we find ourselves in a situation when fascism is all around us." ([10:44])

4. Firsthand Testimony from Repressed Journalists

• Alsu Kurmasheva (Journalist, Radio Free Europe):
  • Spent nine months imprisoned in Russia after failing to register as a "foreign agent" ([13:23]).
  • Describes how freedom and democracy are not automatic: "This is something that has to be developed. This is something has to be taken care of." ([15:10])
  • Warns: "I know democracy and press freedom sounds very vague for people who live ordinary lives… But actually when it comes to you, to your door and rings your bell, it's too late." ([26:34])

5. Notable Domestic Parallels: The Jimmy Kimmel/ABC Case

• The episode references the removal of Jimmy Kimmel from air by ABC in the US as an example of chilling effects on media reminiscent of Russia’s tactics ([01:30], [16:07], [20:52]).
• Akunin: Cautions about society’s response to program closures, pointing to this as a warning sign ([26:09]).

6. Signs and Mechanisms of Authoritarian Drift in Democracies

• Katsarova:
  • Warning signs include: political manipulation of truth, silencing or dismissing journalists, and making "truth" a political commodity ([23:14]).
  • Rise of populist parties and hate speech echoing Russian rhetoric against minorities as early markers ([23:14]).
  • Introduction and discussion of "foreign agent" laws and criminalization of activists can presage greater clampdowns ([21:23]).
• Irene Khan:
  • Emphasizes the dangers of media ownership opacity, SLAPP lawsuits, and commercial pressures overpowering the public interest role of the media ([18:56], [20:00]).
• Both warn that complacency is dangerous, as these trends can arrive subtly before suddenly becoming entrenched ([24:58]).

7. The Power and Peril of Silence

• Alekseyevich:
  • "The worst things are happening in the world when good people are keeping silent." ([25:24])
  • Urges action, not just observation, to preserve freedoms for future generations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mariana Katsarova
  "I feel I'm monitoring the handbook for repression that the Russian government is using against its own civil society. And this handbook unfortunately has been copied by other leaders of democratic countries." ([00:26])

• Alsu Kurmasheva
  "I know democracy and press freedom sounds very vague for people who live ordinary lives... But actually when it comes to you, to your door and rings your bell, it's too late." ([26:34])

• Boris Akunin
  "A foreign agent is anybody they do not approve of. It is not decided by a court of justice or something, just some government is which says that you are a foreign agent, which means you cannot write, you cannot publish, you cannot teach, you are branded." ([06:35])

  "Democracy, traditional democracy is in crisis... We're entering a totally new world where everything will be different." ([07:05])

• Svetlana Alekseyevich
  "We are sitting here with fascism surrounding us... I think there is still this lack of understanding in Europe about what is actually taking place in Russia." ([10:44])

  "The worst things are happening in the world when good people are keeping silent." ([25:24])

• Irene Khan
  "Go after the media if you want to stay in power. What is happening now is that more and more countries, we see an authoritarian trend coming generally into politics." ([16:42])

  "We see an increase in slaps. These are strategic legal action that are brought against journalists. We see that increasingly now in the US..." ([18:56])

• Mariana Katsarova
  "When the truth becomes a political commodity, when journalists are being sacked or silenced or programs are being closed only because a leader or government don't like the sound of truth... that's a warning sign." ([23:14])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:22] – Boris Akunin warns about protester repression in Russia.
• [00:26] – Mariana Katsarova on Russia’s repression "handbook" being copied by democracies.
• [02:48] – Katsarova summarizes Russian repression: "a state sponsored system of fear and punishment."
• [03:41] – On intentional erasure of historical memory in Russia.
• [06:16] – Russia’s "foreign agent" law; Boris Akunin describes its impact.
• [07:05] – Akunin on crisis in western democracy and communication failures.
• [10:44] – Svetlana Alekseyevich on democratic retreat and rising fascism.
• [13:23] – Alsu Kurmasheva describes arrest, detention, and the cost of reporting in Russia.
• [15:10] – Kurmasheva on the need to cherish press freedom and democracy actively.
• [16:42] – Irene Khan details how authoritarian repression of media starts and spreads.
• [18:56] – Khan on warning signs in Western democracies (media ownership, lawsuits).
• [21:23] – Katsarova connects Russian tactics to trends in Europe and the US.
• [23:14] – Key warning signs: truth as political commodity; populist rhetoric and hate.
• [25:24] – Alekseyevich’s call against silence.
• [26:34] – Kurmasheva’s warning: "when it comes to you… it’s too late."
• [28:09] – Irene Khan (preview for next episode) on censorship and journalism in Israel-Gaza context.

Conclusion: Warnings and Call to Action

The episode concludes with all contributors—Russian, Belarusian, and international—urging vigilance, curiosity about the world, and alertness to the early warning signs of repression. The echo throughout: Complacency is a luxury democracies can no longer afford.

"Don't let it happen... I'm watching now closely what's happening... Because this is how it starts."
— Boris Akunin ([26:09])

Further listening on Inside Geneva: Upcoming episodes will tackle press freedom during the Israel-Gaza conflict and ask whether the United Nations can endure without the United States.

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