Transnational repression refers to actions taken by states to silence, intimidate, or harm individuals beyond their borders. This form of state-led oppression targets political dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, and minority communities residing in foreign countries. By extending their authoritarian reach internationally, oppressive regimes attempt to undermine freedoms, suppress dissent, and maintain control over their narratives.

The global nature of transnational repression makes it a serious human rights concern. It erodes the principles of asylum, undermines host countries’ sovereignty, and violates the fundamental rights of targeted individuals, including freedom of speech, movement, and security. Moreover, it signals an alarming shift where authoritarian regimes leverage globalization and technology to export their oppression, raising challenges for democracies in safeguarding their values.

Transnational repression is the coordinated use of extraterritorial tactics by governments to target individuals residing abroad. These tactics can include surveillance, intimidation, abductions, online harassment, and abuse of international legal mechanisms such as Interpol Red Notices.

What is Transnational Repression?

In many cases, authoritarian regimes pursue dissidents who have fled their home countries seeking refuge in democracies. By employing a mix of overt and covert methods, these regimes aim to silence critics, deter activism, and create fear within diasporic communities. The ripple effects often extend to family members or associates of the target, amplifying the harm. This practice undermines the international asylum system, which is built on principles of protection and safety for those fleeing persecution.

Transnational repression is not a new phenomenon, but it has escalated with advancements in digital technology, which allow for enhanced surveillance and harassment across borders. Social media platforms, often intended to foster communication, are weaponized to track and target individuals globally, further complicating the fight against this growing threat.

Who is Behind Transnational Repression?

The actors responsible for transnational repression are typically authoritarian regimes that perceive exiled dissidents and activists as threats to their power. Prominent examples include:

• China: Known for targeting Uyghurs, Hong Kong activists, and political dissidents globally through surveillance and intimidation campaigns. China’s “Operation Fox Hunt” is a notable initiative aimed at coercing fugitives and critics to return.
• Turkey: Using Interpol Red Notices and covert operations to repatriate alleged opponents of the government, particularly members of the Gülen movement. Turkey’s intelligence agencies have also been implicated in extrajudicial kidnappings.
• Russia: Engaging in high-profile assassinations, poisonings, and threats against critics such as political opposition leaders and journalists. Examples include the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Skripal case.
• Iran: Targeting dissidents and opposition figures abroad through kidnappings, cyber harassment, and in some cases, assassinations.
• Saudi Arabia: The killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 remains one of the most egregious examples of transnational repression.
• Egypt: Targeting expatriate activists and journalists critical of the government through surveillance and threats.
• North Korea: Infamously targeting defectors and perceived enemies abroad through assassinations and abductions, including the high-profile murder of Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia.

These regimes often work through their embassies, intelligence agencies, and affiliated networks, leveraging their influence in host countries to suppress dissent. They exploit gaps in international laws and the reluctance of host states to confront such issues, often citing diplomatic sensitivities. Some governments also rely on transnational criminal networks or covert operatives to carry out these acts, making accountability even more challenging.

Methods of Transnational Repression: How it Operates​

Surveillance

Monitoring dissidents and activists through digital technologies, often combined with physical surveillance. This includes tracking through spyware, such as the notorious Pegasus software, used to infiltrate phones and computers.

Harassment and Threats​

Sending intimidating messages, contacting family members, or coercing individuals into silence. In some cases, family members in the home country are detained or threatened as leverage.

Abductions and Forced Returns

Kidnapping individuals and forcibly returning them to their home countries to face prosecution or imprisonment. For example, Turkey has carried out several high-profile renditions of alleged Gülen movement members from countries like Kosovo and Malaysia.

Legal Manipulation

Misusing tools like Interpol Red Notices to label dissidents as criminals, undermining their credibility and mobility. This abuse of international mechanisms places individuals at constant risk of arrest and deportation.

Cyber Operations

Conducting disinformation campaigns, hacking, and online harassment to tarnish reputations and stifle activism. Many regimes employ “troll farms” to amplify false narratives about their targets.

Diplomatic Pressures

Using diplomatic channels to request the extradition of critics under false pretenses or leveraging economic ties to gain cooperation from host states.

These tactics are designed to instill fear and suppress freedom of expression, extending the oppressive reach of authoritarian governments. The cumulative effect is a chilling impact on diaspora communities, silencing voices that would otherwise contribute to critical debates on human rights and democracy.

Where It Happens and Why It Matters for Human Rights​

Transnational repression occurs across the globe, but the European Union (EU) has become a significant battleground for such activities. Many dissidents and activists seek refuge in EU member states, attracted by their commitment to human rights and democratic principles. However, these same individuals often face threats, harassment, and surveillance by the regimes they fled.

The impact on human rights is profound:

• Violation of Asylum Rights: Targets are often denied the safety they seek in host countries. This undermines the integrity of the international refugee system.
• Suppression of Free Speech: Activists are silenced, undermining democratic discourse and eroding public awareness of abuses in authoritarian states.
• Erosion of Personal Security: Families and communities live in constant fear of retaliation, both in host countries and in their home states.

This issue also represents a direct violation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which guarantees:

• Article 6: Right to liberty and security.
• Article 10: Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
• Article 11: Freedom of expression and information.
• Article 12: Freedom of assembly and association.
• Article 19: Protection in the event of removal, expulsion, or extradition, prohibiting deportation to countries where individuals face serious risks of harm.
• Article 47: Right to an effective remedy and fair trial.

By addressing transnational repression, the EU can uphold its human rights values, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure its territory is not used as a platform for authoritarian oppression. Coordinated action, including the establishment of stronger legal frameworks and the promotion of international cooperation, is essential to combat this growing threat effectively.