Russia Bans Amnesty International

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced that Amnesty International has been officially designated as an undesirable organization within the Russian Federation, effectively banning its operations in the country.

In a statement released on Monday, the office said the London-registered non-governmental organization poses a threat to national security and public order.

The decision was made under Russia’s law regulating foreign NGOs, which allows authorities to prohibit the activities of groups deemed harmful to state interests.

According to the statement, Amnesty International has, since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, actively worked to escalate military tensions in the region.

Russian authorities accused the group of attempting to justify alleged crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalist forces, lobbying for increased funding to the Kyiv government, and promoting Russia’s political and economic isolation on the global stage.

The Prosecutor General’s Office also claimed that the organization supports extremist groups and finances activities of so-called foreign agents operating within Russia.

Despite Amnesty International’s global reputation for defending human rights, Russian officials described its London headquarters as a hub for anti-Russian initiatives funded by allies of the Ukrainian government.