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Credible observers attributed thousands of civilian deaths and injuries, as well as numerous abuses, to Russian-led forces in Ukraine’s Donbas region (see the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Ukraine). The Russian government continued to arm, train, lead, and fight alongside Russia-led separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.
The country’s occupation and purported annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula continued to affect the human rights situation there significantly and negatively. Members of the Russian security forces committed numerous human rights abuses. National-level civilian authorities have, at best, limited control over security forces in the Republic of Chechnya, which are accountable only to the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. Except in rare cases, security forces generally report to civilian authorities. The National Guard also participates in armed defense of the country’s territory in coordination with Ministry of Defense forces. The National Guard assists the Federal Security Service’s Border Guard Service in securing borders, administers gun control, combats terrorism and organized crime, protects public order, and guards important state facilities. The national police force, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is responsible for combating all crime. The Federal Security Service is responsible for state security, counterintelligence, and counterterrorism, as well as for fighting organized crime and corruption. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service, the Investigative Committee, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and the National Guard are responsible for law enforcement. On July 1, a national vote held on constitutional amendments did not meet internationally recognized electoral standards. The 2016 State Duma elections and the 2018 presidential election were marked by accusations of government interference and manipulation of the electoral process, including the exclusion of meaningful opposition candidates. The bicameral Federal Assembly consists of a directly elected lower house (State Duma) and an appointed upper house (Federation Council), both of which lack independence from the executive. The Russian Federation has a highly centralized, authoritarian political system dominated by President Vladimir Putin.