Coalition Engages in UK‑Focused Discussion Organized by the German Institute for Human Rights

12 June 2025

On 12 June 2025, the Coalition Against Transnational Repression in Germany participated in an expert event hosted by the German Institute for Human Rights titled “Transnational Repression in the United Kingdom: Scope and Responses.” The event featured a lecture by Professor Andrew Chubb of Lancaster University, who examined how autocratic states target critics beyond their borders, including on British soil.

During the discussion, the Coalition underscored that many of the challenges highlighted in the UK context are also evident in Germany, where individuals affected by transnational repression continue to face intimidation, surveillance, and threats that significantly restrict their rights. The Coalition referenced several well‑documented cases in Germany, noting systematic patterns of harassment and foreign‑linked pressure that persist despite growing political acknowledgment of the issue.

The Coalition emphasized that the British experience demonstrates the urgent need for states to move beyond political recognition of transnational repression and toward practical, enforceable protection mechanisms. This requires not only acknowledging the threat but implementing concrete, human‑rights‑centered policies that ensure safety and accountability.Drawing on its policy recommendations, the Coalition stressed the need for authorities to strengthen inter‑agency coordination, improve investigations into foreign‑linked intimidation, and ensure that protection frameworks are shaped by the lived experiences of affected individuals. Such measures are essential to closing the gap between political commitments and the real‑world protection required to safeguard the rights of those facing cross‑border repression.