Russia, Belarus and four Central Asian countries sign pact to exchange information on alleged extremists

Prosecutors general of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have signed an agreement on cooperating to fight terrorism and extremism, Russian state-affiliated business daily RBC reported on Wednesday.

The agreement provides for the timely exchange of information on organisations, groups and individuals that the signatories consider “terrorist” or “extremist” and classify as national security threats. The countries will also reportedly share information on such groups’ international ties, possible attacks and threats to their sovereignty.

Additionally, the deal covers information on illegal armed groups; human, arms and drug traffickers; organisers of illegal migration; and foreign terrorist fighters.

Russia routinely uses terrorism and extremism charges to prosecute political opponents. The laws have become a tool for pressuring human rights defenders, antiwar activists and other groups the authorities see as disloyal.

According to a count by the independent outlet Mediazona, Russian authorities had opened at least 225 criminal cases for “financing extremism” over donations to the late opposition leader Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation as of April 2026. In the first half of 2026 alone, more than 1,200 people in Russia were convicted on terrorism-related charges, a 38% increase from the same period last year. Nearly a third were tried solely over things they had said.