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The Guardian
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Amnesty International vows to continue its work after Russia ban
Amnesty International has said it will not halt its work after Russia declared the rights group an 'undesirable organisation', in effect banning its operations in the country and exposing supporters to prosecution. 'This decision is part of the Russian government's broader effort to silence dissent and isolate civil society,' Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International's secretary general, said. 'We will redouble our efforts to expose Russia's egregious human rights violations both at home and abroad.' The decision by the Russian prosecutor general's office, announced in an online statement on Monday, is the latest in the unrelenting crackdown on Kremlin critics, journalists and activists that has intensified to unprecedented levels since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The designation means Amnesty must stop any work in Russia. It subjects those who cooperate with the rights group or support it to prosecution, including if anyone shares Amnesty's reports on social media. Russia's list of 'undesirable organisations' covers 223 entities, including prominent independent news outlets and rights groups. Among them: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the independent Russian news outlet Meduza; thinktanks including Chatham House; the anti-corruption group Transparency International; and Open Russia, an opposition group founded by the exiled tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Amnesty International was launched in 1961, documenting and reporting human rights violations around the world and campaigning for the release of those it deems unjustly imprisoned. It has released reports on Russia's war in Ukraine, accusing Moscow of crimes against humanity, and has spoken out against the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent that has swept up thousands of people in recent years. Amnesty's recent statements on Russia included decrying a prison sentence handed to the prominent election monitoring activist Grigory Melkonyants as a 'brazen and politically motivated clampdown on peaceful activism'. It also spoke out against a series of arrests of publishing professionals in Russia last week over alleged 'LGBTQ+ propaganda' in books. In its statement, the prosecutor general's office accused Amnesty International of running 'Russophobic projects' and activities aimed at Russia's 'political and economic isolation'. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Russia outlaws Amnesty International in latest crackdown on dissent and activists
The Russian authorities on Monday (May 19, 2025) outlawed Amnesty International as an 'undesirable organization,' a label that under a 2015 law makes involvement with such organizations a criminal offense. The decision by the Russian Prosecutor General's office, announced in an online statement, is the latest in the unrelenting crackdown on Kremlin critics, journalists and activists that intensified to unprecedented levels after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The designation means the international human rights group must stop any work in Russia, and it subjects those who cooperate with it or support it to prosecution, including if anyone shares Amnesty International's reports on social media. Amnesty International did not immediately comment on the move. Russia's list of 'undesirable organizations' currently covers 223 entities, including prominent independent news outlets and rights groups. Among those are prominent news organizations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty or Russian independent outlet Meduza, think tanks like Chatham House, anti-corruption group Transparency International, and Open Russia, an opposition group founded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an exiled tycoon who became an opposition figure. After Open Russia was declared undesirable in 2021 and disbanded to protect its members, its leader, Andrei Pivovarov, was arrested and convicted on charges of carrying out activities of an undesirable organization. He was sentenced to four years in prison and released in 2024 in the largest prisoner exchange with the West since Soviet times. Amnesty International was launched in 1961. The group documents and reports human rights violations around the globe and campaigns for the release of those it deems unjustly imprisoned. It has released reports on Russia's war in Ukraine, accusing Moscow of crimes against humanity, and has spoken out against the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent that has swept up thousands of people in recent years. Amnesty International's recent statements on Russia included decrying a prison sentence handed to prominent election monitoring activists Grigory Melkonyants as a 'brazen and politically motivated clampdown on peaceful activism.' It also spoke out against a series of arrests of publishing professionals in Russia last week over alleged 'LGBTQ+ propaganda' in books. 'This shameless heavy-handed use of state apparatus against literature is as absurd as it is terrifying,' said Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International's Russia director. In its statement, the Prosecutor General's office accused the group of running 'Russophobic projects" and activities aimed at Russia's 'political and economic isolation.'
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Russia outlaws Amnesty International in latest crackdown on dissent and activists
The Russian authorities on Monday outlawed Amnesty International as an "undesirable organization," a label that under a 2015 law makes involvement with such organizations a criminal offense. The decision by the Russian Prosecutor General's office, announced in an online statement, is the latest in the unrelenting crackdown on Kremlin critics, journalists and activists that intensified to unprecedented levels after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The designation means the international human rights group must stop any work in Russia, and it subjects those who cooperate with it or support it to prosecution, including if anyone shares Amnesty International's reports on social media. Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop And Nudges Her To Follow - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo Amnesty International did not immediately comment on the move. Russia's list of "undesirable organizations" currently covers 223 entities, including prominent independent news outlets and rights groups. Among those are prominent news organizations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty or Russian independent outlet Meduza, think tanks like Chatham House, anti-corruption group Transparency International, and Open Russia, an opposition group founded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an exiled tycoon who became an opposition figure. Live Events After Open Russia was declared undesirable in 2021 and disbanded to protect its members, its leader, Andrei Pivovarov, was arrested and convicted on charges of carrying out activities of an undesirable organization. He was sentenced to four years in prison and released in 2024 in the largest prisoner exchange with the West since Soviet times. Amnesty International was launched in 1961. The group documents and reports human rights violations around the globe and campaigns for the release of those it deems unjustly imprisoned. It has released reports on Russia's war in Ukraine, accusing Moscow of crimes against humanity, and has spoken out against the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent that has swept up thousands of people in recent years. Amnesty International's recent statements on Russia included decrying a prison sentence handed to prominent election monitoring activists Grigory Melkonyants as a "brazen and politically motivated clampdown on peaceful activism." It also spoke out against a series of arrests of publishing professionals in Russia last week over alleged "LGBTQ+ propaganda" in books. "This shameless heavy-handed use of state apparatus against literature is as absurd as it is terrifying," said Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International's Russia director. In its statement, the Prosecutor General's office accused the group of running "Russophobic projects" and activities aimed at Russia's "political and economic isolation."
