Russia outlaws Amnesty International, labels it ‘undesirable organisation’
By Jeffrey Agbo
Russia has banned Amnesty International, declaring the prominent human rights group an “undesirable organisation” and accusing it of promoting “Russophobia” and supporting Ukraine.
The decision, announced Monday, adds Amnesty to a growing list of international civil society groups outlawed amid an intensifying crackdown on dissent and foreign influence.
According to Russia’s Prosecutor General, the London-based NGO serves as a “centre for the preparation of global Russophobic projects, paid for by accomplices of the Kyiv regime.” Authorities claimed the group had “been doing everything possible to intensify the military confrontation in the region, justifying the crimes of the Ukrainian neo-Nazis, calling for increased funding for them and supporting the political and economic isolation of our country.”
These accusations echo the Kremlin’s broader narrative, which portrays its war in Ukraine—launched in February 2022—as a campaign to “de-Nazify” the country. Kyiv and Western governments, along with independent analysts, have consistently denounced this justification as unfounded propaganda.
Amnesty International, which has long criticised human rights abuses around the world, describes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “war of aggression.” In its reports, the group has condemned sweeping restrictions in Russia on freedom of expression, assembly and association, and highlighted the state’s persecution of dissenters, minority groups, religious communities and LGBTQ individuals.
The designation of “undesirable organisation” means Amnesty is now prohibited from operating within Russia. Under Russian law, individuals who are found to collaborate with such groups may face steep fines or even prison sentences.
