Russia has designated Amnesty International as an “undesirable” organisation, effectively banning the globally respected human rights watchdog from operating within its borders.
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, in a statement issued Monday, claimed Amnesty has acted as a propaganda tool for Western governments backing Ukraine, accusing the group of fueling anti-Russian sentiment and advocating for the country’s economic and political isolation since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Russian state media quoted the office as saying Amnesty’s London-based operations were a “centre for the preparation of global Russophobic projects,” and alleged the organisation supported extremists and foreign agents.
Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. “This is part of a broader effort to silence dissent,” she said. “We will not back down. No authoritarian regime will stop our pursuit of justice.”
The “undesirable” label is a severe classification under Russian law. It prohibits any activities by the group and criminalises cooperation with it—including sharing its content online. Violators risk heavy penalties or imprisonment.
Amnesty now joins a growing list of 223 organisations—including Transparency International and Radio Free Europe—already banned in Russia, as the Kremlin seeks to tighten its grip on public discourse and suppress international scrutiny.
Founded in 1961, Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate renowned for documenting human rights abuses worldwide, from war crimes in Ukraine to the Gaza Strip and Darfur.
The move underscores Moscow’s deepening isolation—and its relentless campaign to control the narrative.
— Uzalendo News Global Desk
