As Putin has progressively maintained a tight grip over power in Russia his global ambitions are beginning to undo what little commitments to the protection of human rights Russia might have taken when it re-democratized. As it looks to build stronger alliances in the Region, it is, for example, looking towards the repatriation of North Koreans back to North Korea knowing fully well they will be tortured by the North Korean regime’s death squads. Lina Yoon has this information in Human Rights Watch. Here is an excerpt:

Choe Kum Chol, a 33-year-old North Korean military information technology officer, escaped his North Korean minders in July 2021 while working in Vladivostok in far eastern Russia. He was assisted by an activist, also a North Korean escapee, who remotely helps North Koreans in Russia and China reach safety. But in September, Choe was taken into custody and has not been seen or heard from since.

Many North Koreans travel to Vladivostok to earn a living. While there, North Korean officials keep them under strict surveillance to prevent escapes. They must report on each other’s actions and are not allowed to walk around by themselves, speak with local residents, access the internet for personal purposes, or hold passports.

The activist who aided Choe’s escape tried to help him seek asylum in Russia and provided him with a safe house. But on September 20, 2021, Choe sent an urgent text message asking for help, saying he had just spotted five men in Russian police uniforms coming towards the safe house. “The police officers broke down the door of the house and took him away,” the activist said. “Choe was staying in an unpopulated rural area with no CCTVs. I don’t know how they found him.” 

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