Russia tried to use the UN as a platform to persecute its political opponents. Why did it ultimately fail?

Russia tried to use the UN as a platform to persecute its political opponents. Why did it ultimately fail?

A new UN convention on combating cybercrime may soon be ratified in Russia. Moscow itself pushed for its adoption at the global level for nearly 10 years. But under pressure from the West, the final version of the document did not turn out the way the Russian authorities wanted. They tried to adopt a convention under which political opponents of the Kremlin abroad (as well as of the authorities of China, North Korea, and Iran) would face risks of persecution. In the end, it seems this threat was avoided. Still, Russia is continuing to try to supplement the document with amendments that would allow it to organize surveillance of dissidents around the world after all.

We explain the history and the risks of the convention that nearly became a diplomatic triumph for Moscow.

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