Europe and the Caucasus: Attacks on property fuel rising violence against local officials

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This report is part of ACLED's annual Violence Targeting Local Officials series that has been covering this topic for the past four years.

Taken together, Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia is the region with the highest increase in violence against local officials in 2025. Throughout the year, ACLED records a total of 284 cases of violence and intimidatory acts, up by 46% compared to 2024, when ACLED records 195 such incidents.

In line with previous years, physical violence against local officials remained prevalent in Italy, which is home to 64% of all incidents in the European Union. Most events were reported in the country’s southern regions, which historically have a bigger presence of mafia-style organized criminal groups.¹ Unclaimed night attacks on private and public properties remained the most common form of violence against local administrations across the EU (see graph below). 

In recent years, intimidation, threats, and abuse against local representatives, both online and offline, have become common occurrences across the EU. Political polarization² and growing disinformation fuel hostilities toward local and regional elected officials, especially when these politicians are women or belong to a minority group. Violence against local representatives has ultimately led officials to self-censor or even withdraw from their roles, weakening democratic representation and institutions.³ 

Attacks against local authorities also occur in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukrainian war (see graph below). In 2025, ACLED records 154 cases of violence against local officials in the two countries, up by 161% from the previous year. In almost half of these incidents, administrative buildings and properties were hit during air- and drone strikes. Administrative buildings were most frequently, though not exclusively, hit in the front-line communities and regions, as they serve to support displaced and affected populations and may be militarized. 

However, there were also several cases of sabotage and targeted assassinations claimed or attributed to operatives and proxies linked to Russian and Ukrainian secret services. Among those killed in 2025 were the former Russian-appointed mayor of Luhansk, a Russian citizen who served as the deputy head of the Russian-controlled city of Berdiansk, and a deputy head of Stavropol in Russia. Despite occurring less frequently than in earlier years, these events highlight the risks faced by local officials on Russian territory and in Russia-occupied Ukraine, many of whom continue to be targeted for their role in enabling the Russian invasion and war crimes.

Visuals produced by Ciro Murillo.

Regional trends in violence targeting local officials