Russia Bans Amnesty International as an “Undesirable”

Russia labeled Amnesty International an “undesirable organization,” in effect outlawing it and making it punishable under Russian law to have any association with the prominent global human rights group, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. 

The group “is the center of preparation of global Russophobic projects,” said Russia’s prosecutor-general in a statement Monday, adding that the country decided to ban the organization because of its so-called advocacy on behalf of Ukraine, Reuters wrote. 

The prosecutor added that Amnesty is justifying “the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis,” in line with previous Russian claims that Ukraine is governed by neo-Nazi groups, a pretext often used by Moscow to justify its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

Amnesty International, an organization founded in 1961 that campaigns for human rights across the world, did not comment on the ban. 

Russia adopted the “undesirable organization” law in 2015 to ban organizations that receive funding from foreign sources, saying those organizations are a threat to national security. 

Russian citizens risk up to five years in prison for engaging with an “undesirable organization” or for aiding in its financing within Russia. 

Analysts, however, say that designation is a pretense to silence dissent: Dozens of media outlets – including RFE/RL – and organizations involved in political, cultural, and educational activities, support for democratic institutions, and even religious organizations have been recently given that designation.