Latest news with #ProsecutorGeneral
Russia Today
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Russia Today
Russia bans British Council
The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has banned the British Council from operating in the country, accusing it of spreading LGBTQ propaganda and undermining Russia's domestic and foreign policy. An official statement on Thursday accused the council of portraying itself as an independent organization while aligning its activities with UK government priorities, reporting to the British Parliament, and receiving funding from the UK Foreign Office. 'Under the guise of educational and cultural work, including various outreach events and English language teaching, the Council in fact promotes long-term British interests and values in the fields of education, culture, and youth policy,' the Prosecutor General's Office stated. Russian prosecutors also accused the British Council of being involved in promoting and supporting the LGBTQ movement, which is banned in Russia, and implementing projects aimed at 'systematically discrediting Russia's domestic and foreign policy.' According to the Prosecutor General's Office, one of the council's objectives is to 'eradicate Russian identity among the populations of former Soviet republics,' including as part of a consortium with other organizations designated as undesirable. In particular, the British Council is implementing a program of so-called 'cultural engagement' designed to unite the Baltic community around an anti-Russian agenda, officials claimed. Prosecutors were referring to the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which have taken a hardline anti-Russian stance since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, showing particular hostility toward the significant Russian minorities living in these countries. The British Council, established in 1934 and registered as a charity in the UK, once operated more than a dozen offices across Russia. In 2007, the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered the council to shut down its offices outside Moscow, accusing it of violating tax regulations. In March 2018, the council was told to cease operations in Russia, citing unresolved issues over its legal status. Last month, Moscow banned the London-based NGO Amnesty International for allegedly preparing global Russophobic projects and supporting the Ukrainian military. In April, Russia also outlawed the US-based NGO Hope Harbor Society, designating it as 'undesirable' over allegations of funding the Ukrainian military and coordinating anti-Russian protests in the US and abroad. The Elton John AIDS Foundation received the same designation, with authorities accusing it of promoting a pro-LGBTQ agenda in Russia. Organizations given the 'undesirable' designation are prohibited from operating in Russia, while individuals or entities found providing financial or other forms of support to them may face legal consequences.
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Russia labels British Council 'undesirable organization'
MOSCOW, June 5 (Reuters) - Russia's Prosecutor General's Office said on Thursday it had labelled The British Council an undesirable organization. "Positioning itself as an independent structure, all the work of the Council is aligned with the priorities of the UK government, the organisation is accountable to Parliament and funded by the Foreign Office of this country," it said in a statement. The British Council, which calls itself "the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities", said in 2018 that it had been told to cease operations in Russia. The British Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside usual London business hours.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Finland court give date for hearing of Simon Ekpa case
Di Päijät-Häme District Court for Finland don set date to begin di hearing of criminal case against a former municipal politician from Lahti wey dey identified as Simon Ekpa. Dis na afta di Office of the Prosecutor General for Finland bin confam to BBC Pidgin say dem charge di suspect (Ekpa) wit 'public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent'. Di district court for Finland tell BBC Pidgin say di defendant (Ekpa) dey for detention and hearing for im case go start for end of May 2025. Dis na according to Ulla Ristola wey be di District Secretary for di District Court of Päijät-Häme. According to di District Court of Päijät-Häme for dia document wey BBC Pidgin get, di hearing go last several days and di prosecutors applications for summons, and di defendant written response go dey public for 30 May 2025 "Päijät-Häme District Court go begin hearing a criminal case concerning terrorist crimes, on 30 May 2025. Di defendant for di case na former municipal politician from Lahti, wey currently dey pretrial detention." Di District Court say di defendant dey "charged wit public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent, participation for di activities of a terrorist group, aggravated tax fraud and violation of di provisions of di Attorneys Act." Päijät-Häme District Court through di district secretary say di trial go begin wit a preparatory session on 30 May 2025. "Di main hearing go den begin on di same day, and dey expected to last several days. Di trial go dey at least largely public." BBC Pidgin gada say na panel of three judges go hear and decide di case. Di charges against Simon Ekpa Finnish Deputy Prosecutor General bin charge promoter of di Indigenous People of Biafra Simon Ekpa wit inciting terrorism online. Di Finland National Prosecution Authority say Ekpa allegedly commit di offence for Lahti between 2021 and 2024. Di Office of the Prosecutor General for Finland also add say dem dey suspect aggravated tax fraud join di charges. "Di charges dey related to di suspect activities wey dey aimed at establishing di so-called Biafra region of Nigeria as an independent state," Finland Office of the Prosecutor General tok. "Di Deputy Prosecutor General don file charges against a Finnish individual for a case wey involve suspected public incitement to commit a crime wit terrorist intent and participation for terrorist group." "Di alleged acts dey committed for Lahti between 2021 and 2024, along wit related alternative charges and suspected aggravated tax fraud." Also, Mikko Laaksonen wey be di Senior Detective Superintendent of Finland National Bureau of Investigation tell BBC Pidgin say di charges filed against Ekpa include contribution to activities of terrorist group. "Prosecution don file charges against Simon Ekpa wit contributing to di activities of a terrorist group and public exhortation to an offence wit terrorist intent." According to di National Prosecuting Authority, dem say di charged individual (Ekpa) dey for custody and "e don deny say im commit di crime." We don reach out to Simon Ekpa lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus to get im side of di tori wey we receive from di Finland authority and how dem dey react to am. More tori on Simon Ekpa dey here:
Al Jazeera
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Moscow outlaws Amnesty International for ‘Russophobia' amid Ukraine war
Russian authorities have designated Amnesty International as an 'undesirable' organisation, alleging that the rights group propagates pro-war content backed by the Western allies of Ukraine, in the latest crackdown on Kremlin critics. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement on Monday that Amnesty's London office has acted as a 'centre for the preparation of global Russophobic projects paid for by accomplices of the Kyiv regime', according to state-run media. It claimed that since the start of the war in February 2022, Amnesty has been 'doing everything possible to intensify the military confrontation in the region', including by 'insisting on the political and economic isolation of our country'. The office also emphasised that members of the international rights group 'support extremist organisations and finance the activities of foreign agents'. Amnesty did not immediately respond to the allegations. The designation means the international human rights group must stop any work in Russia, and those accused of cooperating with or supporting it will be exposed to criminal prosecution. This could even include anyone who shares Amnesty International's reports on social media. Russia currently recognises 223 entities as 'undesirable' organisations, including some prominent independent, as well as Western-backed news outlets and rights groups. Some of those include Transparency International, Latvia-based outlet Meduza, and US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Amnesty International was established in 1961 to document and report human rights violations around the globe and campaign for the release of those deemed unjustly imprisoned. The organisation won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977, having been recognised 'for worldwide respect for human rights' and efforts to combat torture, advocate for prisoners of conscience, and promote global adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In addition to covering human rights violations during the Ukraine war, the group has documented massacres in the Gaza Strip and Israeli apartheid, as well as atrocities in Sudan and many other countries. Moscow has intensified its crackdown on human rights groups and civil society organisations as relations with the West plummeted over the Ukraine war and the expansion of NATO. This has included expanding the 'undesirable' and 'foreign agent' designations to shut down opposing voices, as well as the suppression of some minority groups' rights. The move on Monday came as US President Donald Trump was due to hold a phone call with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid efforts to end the fighting. The diplomatic efforts follow inconclusive direct talks, the first in three years, between delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Turkiye's Istanbul on Friday. The brief talks yielded only an agreement to swap 1,000 prisoners of war, according to the heads of both delegations, in what would be their biggest such exchange since the war began. A senior Ukrainian official familiar with the talks said Russian negotiators demanded Kyiv pull its troops out of all its regions claimed by Moscow before they would agree to a ceasefire. That is a red line for Ukraine, and as it stands, Russia does not have full control in those regions.
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Russia outlaws Amnesty International in latest crackdown on opposition
Russia has outlawed Amnesty International, designating it an "undesirable organisation" and criminalising involvement with the human rights group in the country. This move, announced Monday by the Russian Prosecutor General's office, further intensifies the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent, which has escalated dramatically since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The ban effectively shuts down Amnesty's operations within Russia and threatens anyone cooperating with or supporting the organisation with prosecution. This latest addition brings Russia's list of "undesirable organizations" to 223 entities, a roster that includes prominent independent news outlets and rights groups such as US government-funded broadcaster RFE/RL and Greenpeace. Russian citizens face up to five years in prison for working with or funding these banned groups. Amnesty International was launched in 1961. The group documents and reports human rights violations across the globe and campaigns for 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 spoke out against the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent that has swept up thousands of people in recent years. In a statement, Russia's prosecutor general said that Amnesty International Limited's London office was a "centre for the preparation of global Russophobic projects", and accused it of advocating of behalf of Ukraine. It accused Amnesty of: "doing everything possible to intensify the military confrontation in the region. They justify the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, call for an increase in their funding, and insist on the political and economic isolation of our country." Russian officials regularly accuse Ukraine of being dominated by 'neo-Nazis', an accusation seen in Ukraine, the West and other countries as baseless propaganda. Amnesty International did not immediately comment on the move. The move comes as Russia president Vladimir Putin is set to hold a crucial call with US counterpart Donald Trump to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire. President Trump said his aim in the discussion was to stop the 'bloodbath' that is taking place in Ukraine, and marks the latest development after several weeks of increased diplomatic activity.
