Russia has declared Amnesty International an undesirable organization on its territory, accusing the international human rights organization of supporting the Ukrainian regime and promoting anti-Russian initiatives
This decision has become another step in Moscow's large-scale campaign against international institutions that criticize its actions during the so-called "special military operation" in Ukrainian lands. According to an official statement from the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, Amnesty International Limited, registered in London, is now declared undesirable within the country. The document emphasizes that, regardless of the organization's claims of focusing on human rights protection, its activities in Russia are subject to harsh criticism. Russian law enforcement authorities believe that Amnesty International's main office in London is not focused on fighting for human rights but on promoting "Russophobic" narratives funded by potential supporters of the Kyiv regime. According to Russian security services, since the beginning of the so-called "special military operation," representatives of Amnesty International have allegedly openly justified Ukrainian neo-Nazis' actions, called for increased financial and political support for Ukraine, and advocated sanctions against Russia. Furthermore, the Russian prosecutor's office states that the organization, in its activities, supports extremist groups and finances foreign agents operating in Russia and other countries. The background of this decision dates back to last year when Amnesty International openly criticized U.S. President Joe Biden's administration for transferring anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. The organization called that decision "unwise" and urged U.S. authorities to reconsider their actions. In 2023, Amnesty International also actively documented and published evidence of crimes committed during Russia's occupation of Ukrainian territories, with a particular focus on executions and gross human rights violations involving civilians and children. The decision to declare Amnesty International "undesirable" reflects a sharpening of Russian diplomatic and legal rhetoric in response to international criticism of Moscow's actions in the war. It is important to note that this ban not only restricts the organization's activities but also aims to create an additional barrier for international human rights agencies expressing discontent with the Kremlin's policies. Overall, this move has elicited criticism from the international human rights community and several countries, which call for preserving freedom of speech and the activities of independent organizations in Russia. At the same time, the Russian authorities continue their policy of limiting the influence of foreign structures on internal political affairs, which, according to critics, further isolates Russia on the global stage and reduces transparency for international mechanisms overseeing human rights compliance.