The Russian authorities have today declared Amnesty International an “undesirable organization”, effectively criminalizing its activities and any association with it in Russia.
This move is part of a broader crackdown on dissent, which has seen activists, independent media, and civil society groups imprisoned, exiled, or outlawed. Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, condemned the decision, stating that the ban is an attempt to silence dissent and isolate civil society.
Background and Implications
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office cited Amnesty’s work as the reason for the designation. This decision follows: A 2015 law allowing the authorities to ban foreign organizations. The law allows the authorities to prosecute foreign NGOs designated as “undesirable” on national security grounds.
Consequently, Amnesty’s website is blocked and its office closed in Moscow.
In the same vein, the Kremlin also warns that severe penalties will be taken against anybody affiliated with the group. The penalties including fines and prison sentences of up to six years.
Despite the ban, Amnesty International is now among dozens of independent NGOs and media outlets banned in Russia. Despite the ban, Amnesty vows to continue defending human rights globally.
