Kovcheg Foundation

Kovcheg’s mission is to support human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk by enabling them to continue their work in safe environments and by strengthening Russian civil society in exile. We provide legal assistance on visa, asylum, and temporary residency procedures, coordinate emergency housing in countries of first arrival such as Armenia, Turkey, Georgia, and Serbia, and offer psychological support tailored to trauma and forced displacement. We also assist HRDs facing transnational repression by providing legal and advocacy support in third countries. In addition, Kovcheg works to build communities and networks among exiled Russians, support the formation of a new democratic diaspora, and ensure the representation of independent Russian voices in the international space. Our goal is to ensure protection, continuity of work, and dignified conditions for HRDs and activists under threat — and to contribute to the resilience and visibility of Russia’s exiled civil society.