This thesis aims to provide a response from an academic perspective to the situation of risks faced by human rights defenders ('HRDs') in repressive environments. This study focuses on persecution of rights defenders through legal action, when the legal system is used strategically to criminalise and obstruct human rights work. In exploring the issue of risks and protection of rights defenders, the thesis focuses on the role of the domestic society as a force to protect defenders and explores the interaction of HRDs and the society. The context for this exploration is Russia as a country that represents a vivid example of a regulatory backlash on freedom of association, assembly, and expression. This empirical study uses a mixed methods approach consisting of a public opinion survey and in-depth semi-structured interviews with HRDs. The research questions addressed in this thesis are the following: How are HRDs perceived by the members of a given society? What are the key aspects and ways in which they interact with the members of a given society? How does repression of HRDs through the law affect social perception and social trust to HRDs? The study demonstrates that on the one hand, HRDs experience societal hostility which impedes their work and well-being. On the other hand, the thesis explains the ways in which HRDs experience societal support. Evidence from interviews with human rights NGOs staff clearly shows that the agency of the members of society is often fundamental for NGOs' survival, especially in the current context of the 'foreign agents' law. The gathered empirical data allows reaching a conclusion that the domestic society has a significant potential in protecting HRDs and this protective potential should be acknowledged, used, and further developed.