diff --git a/redbot/cogs/downloader/downloader.py b/redbot/cogs/downloader/downloader.py
index 166152c37..0af8ec95d 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/downloader/downloader.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/downloader/downloader.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class Downloader:
         self.LIB_PATH.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         self.SHAREDLIB_PATH.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         if not self.SHAREDLIB_INIT.exists():
-            with self.SHAREDLIB_INIT.open(mode='w') as _:
+            with self.SHAREDLIB_INIT.open(mode='w', encoding='utf-8') as _:
                 pass
 
         if str(self.LIB_PATH) not in syspath:
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/trivia/trivia.py b/redbot/cogs/trivia/trivia.py
index 12d912450..d12b101e7 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/trivia/trivia.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/trivia/trivia.py
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ class Trivia:
             raise FileNotFoundError("Could not find the `{}` category"
                                     "".format(category))
 
-        with path.open() as file:
+        with path.open(encoding='utf-8') as file:
             try:
                 dict_ = yaml.load(file)
             except yaml.error.YAMLError as exc:
diff --git a/redbot/core/i18n.py b/redbot/core/i18n.py
index e4a2dce8f..62f4ab50f 100644
--- a/redbot/core/i18n.py
+++ b/redbot/core/i18n.py
@@ -180,9 +180,9 @@ class CogI18n:
         try:
 
             try:
-                translation_file = locale_path.open('ru')
+                translation_file = locale_path.open('ru', encoding='utf-8')
             except ValueError:  # We are using Windows
-                translation_file = locale_path.open('r')
+                translation_file = locale_path.open('r', encoding='utf-8')
             self._parse(translation_file)
         except (IOError, FileNotFoundError):  # The translation is unavailable
             pass