Russia declares Amnesty International's activities ‘undesirable’

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has officially declared the activities of Amnesty International as "undesirable" within the country, effectively banning the human rights organization from operating in Russia.

A statement released on Friday by the Prosecutor General’s Office accused the London-based organization of being a "center for preparing global Russophobic projects". The Russian authorities alleged that Amnesty International, following the start of what Moscow calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine, has been actively working to "intensify the military confrontation in the region," justify alleged crimes committed by "Ukrainian neo-Nazis," and advocate for Russia’s political and economic isolation.

The Russian government’s terminology refers to the ongoing large-scale war against Ukraine as a "special military operation".

Furthermore, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office accused Amnesty International of supporting "extremist organizations" and financing the activities of "foreign agents" in Russia.

In its recent reports, Amnesty International has highlighted cases where teachers, students, and parents in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories faced repression for continuing education in the Ukrainian language. The organization reported that educators were forced to adopt Russian-approved curricula that include Kremlin propaganda.

The designation of an organization as "undesirable" under Russian law means it is prohibited from operating within the country. Those who continue their activities despite the ban may face criminal and administrative penalties.

Russia has already barred more than 200 foreign organizations under this law, reflecting a broader crackdown on civil society groups and foreign institutions in the country.