| Undesirable organizations law Undesirable NGOs law | |
|---|---|
| |
| Citation | 129-FZ |
| Enacted | 23 May 2015 |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill title | 662902-6 |
| ||
|---|---|---|
Personal Legacy | ||
The Russian undesirable organizations law (officially Federal Law of 23 May 2015 N 129-FZ "On amendments of some legislative acts of the Russian Federation") [1] is a law that was signed by President Vladimir Putin on 23 May 2015 as a follow-up to the 2012 Russian foreign agent law and Dima Yakovlev Law. Under the law, Russian prosecutors are able to target foreign groups which they deem to present "a threat to the foundation of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the defense capability of the country or the security of the state." [2]
The law gives prosecutors the power to declare foreign and international organizations "undesirable" in Russia and shut them down. Organizations are subject to heavy fines, while individuals affiliated with them can receive lengthy prison sentences if they fail to dissolve when given notice to do so. These punishments also apply to Russians who maintain ties to them. Supporters of the law claim that this law is vital for the preservation of national security, but critics say that the law is unclear in many areas and can be used to silence dissent. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government has escalated the use of both the foreign agent and undesirable organizations laws to block the activities of the media, human rights and civil society organisations, most of whom are based in the western world. [3]
The proponents revealed that an initial idea of the law was to expand the action of the "foreign agent law" onto foreign noncommercial organizations as well, but after the introduction of economic sanctions against Russia they decided to incorporate economic aspects in the new law as well. [4]
On 23 July 2024 the State Duma adopted a law according to which any organizations can be recognized as undesirable in Russia if their founders or participants are foreign government agencies, in addition to foreign NGOs. [5]
These organisations are forbidden from holding public events and from possessing or distributing promotional materials, including via mass media. All Russian banks and financial institutions are forbidden from cooperating with them and are required to inform Russia's financial watchdog agency about all those that attempt to use them.[ citation needed ]
When given notice from the prosecutors, these NGOs have to disband. Violators face fines or prison terms of up to six years. People cooperating with such entities are subject to fines and can be banned from entering Russia. [6] Russians who maintain ties with "undesirables" face penalties ranging from fines to a maximum of six years in prison. [7]
On 25 May 2015, the first proposed list of undesirable NGOs was sent to the Prosecutor-General's office was made by an MP from LDPR. The list included the think tank Carnegie Moscow Center, the international history and human rights society Memorial, as well as the Moscow offices of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. [8]
On 7 July 2015, RIA Novosti published an alleged shortlist by the Federal Council of Russia of organizations to be branded undesirable. Those include the US-based Open Society Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, the MacArthur Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The list also includes the Polish-based Education for Democracy foundation and the East European Democratic Centre as well as three Ukrainian organizations: The Ukrainian World Congress, the Ukrainian World Coordinating Council and the Crimean Field Mission on Human Rights. [9] [10]
After the Federal Council's vote to include the MacArthur Foundation on the recommended list of "undesirable organizations", it announced the closing of its Russian division, operating since 1992. [11]
In July 2015, the National Endowment for Democracy became the first organization to be officially blacklisted by the Russian authorities under the law. The decision by the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation was announced on its website where it was claimed that NED's activities "pose a threat to constitutional order of the Russian Federation, defense potential and security of the state". Among NED's alleged violations were its donations to commercial and non-profit organizations that independently monitor elections, as well as for undefined "political activities" and "discrediting service in the [Russian] armed forces". [12] [13]
In November 2015, two branches of George Soros' charity network, the Open Society Foundations and the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation, were banned under this law in Russia. The infractions were not listed, but the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation released a statement stating that "the activity of the Open Society Foundations and the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation represents a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation and the security of the state". [14] [15]
Ahead of the March 2018 presidential election, two European organizations involved in election monitoring were added. [16]
As of 22 December 2025 [update] , the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation declared 291 overseas and international non-governmental organizations "undesirable" in Russia (including the occupied territories of Ukraine): most of the affected organizations are based in Germany, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [17]
| № | Organization affected | Country | Ministry of Justice’s order date | Prosecutor- General’s decision date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Endowment for Democracy | 29 July 2015 | 28 July 2015 | [18] | |
| 2 | Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation | 1 December 2015 | 26 November 2015 | [19] | |
| 3 | Open Society Foundations | 1 December 2015 | 26 November 2015 | [19] | |
| 4 | U.S. Russia Foundation | 7 December 2015 | 3 December 2015 | [20] | |
| 5 | National Democratic Institute | 17 March 2016 | 10 March 2016 | [21] | |
| 6 | Media Development Investment Fund | 22 August 2016 | 18 August 2016 | [22] | |
| 7 | International Republican Institute | 22 August 2016 | 18 August 2016 | [22] | |
| 8 | Open Russia Civic Movement | 27 April 2017 | 26 April 2017 | [23] | |
| 9 | Open Russia | 27 April 2017 | 26 April 2017 | [23] | |
| 10 | Institute of Modern Russia | 27 April 2017 | 26 April 2017 | [24] | |
| 11 | Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation | 3 July 2017 | 30 June 2017 | [25] | |
| 12 | European Platform for Democratic Elections | 13 March 2018 | 12 March 2018 | [26] | |
| 13 | International Elections Study Center | 13 March 2018 | 12 March 2018 | [27] | |
| 14 | German Marshall Fund | 21 March 2018 | 20 March 2018 | [28] | |
| 15 | Pacific Environment | 28 August 2018 | 24 August 2018 | [29] | |
| 16 | Free Russia Foundation | 28 June 2019 | 27 June 2019 | [30] | |
| 17 | Ukrainian World Congress | 17 July 2019 | 11 July 2019 | [31] | |
| 18 | Atlantic Council | 29 July 2019 | 25 July 2019 | [32] | |
| 19 | People in Need | 12 November 2019 | 7 November 2019 | [33] | |
| 20 | European Endowment for Democracy | 12 March 2020 | 6 March 2020 | [34] | |
| 21 | Jamestown Foundation | 9 April 2020 | 8 April 2020 | [35] | |
| 22 | PH International | 23 April 2020 | 22 April 2020 | [36] | |
| 23 | Dragon Springs | 21 July 2020 | 17 July 2020 | [37] | |
| 24 | Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting | 21 July 2020 | 17 July 2020 | [37] | |
| 25 | European Falun Dafa Association | 21 July 2020 | 17 July 2020 | [37] | |
| 26 | Friends of Falun Gong | 21 July 2020 | 17 July 2020 | [37] | |
| 27 | Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners | 21 July 2020 | 17 July 2020 | [37] | |
| 28 | Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong | 21 July 2020 | 17 July 2020 | [37] | |
| 29 | World Organisation to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong | 21 July 2020 | 17 July 2020 | [37] | |
| 30 | Prague Civil Society Centre | 25 December 2020 | 17 December 2020 | [38] | |
| 31 | Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe | 25 December 2020 | 22 December 2020 | [39] | |
| 32 | Center for Liberal Modernity | 2 June 2021 | 26 May 2021 | [40] | |
| 33 | Forum of Russian-speaking Europeans | 2 June 2021 | 26 May 2021 | [40] | |
| 34 | Austausch | 2 June 2021 | 26 May 2021 | [40] | |
| 35 | Bard College | 30 June 2021 | 21 June 2021 | [41] | |
| 36 | European Choice | 9 July 2021 | 30 June 2021 | [42] | |
| 37 | Khodorkovsky Foundation | 9 July 2021 | 30 June 2021 | [42] | |
| 38 | Oxford Russia Fund | 9 July 2021 | 30 June 2021 | [42] | |
| 39 | Future of Russia Foundation | 9 July 2021 | 30 June 2021 | [42] | |
| 40 | Society for Freedom of Information (Team 29) | 9 July 2021 | 29 June 2021 | [43] | |
| 41 | Proekt | 23 July 2021 | 15 July 2021 | [44] | |
| 42 | International Partnership for Human Rights | 17 August 2021 | 12 August 2021 | [45] | |
| 43 | New Generation Spiritual Directorate of the Evangelical Christian | 30 August 2021 | 23 August 2021 | [46] | |
| 44 | New Generation Evangelical Christian Church | 30 August 2021 | 23 August 2021 | [46] | |
| 45 | New Generation International Biblical College | 30 August 2021 | 23 August 2021 | [46] | |
| 46 | New Generation International Christian Movement | 30 August 2021 | 23 August 2021 | [46] | |
| 47 | World Institute of Scientology Enterprises | 1 October 2021 | 24 September 2021 | [47] | |
| 48 | Church of Spiritual Technology | 1 October 2021 | 24 September 2021 | [47] | |
| 49 | European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations | 1 October 2021 | 27 September 2021 | [48] | |
| 50 | WOT Foundation | 4 February 2022 | 25 January 2022 | [49] | |
| 51 | Free Idel-Ural | 28 February 2022 | 16 February 2022 | [49] | |
| 52 | Journalism Development Network (OCCRP) | 5 March 2022 | 22 February 2022 | [49] | |
| 53 | Important Stories | 5 March 2022 | 22 February 2022 | [49] | |
| 54 | Chatham House | 13 April 2022 | 7 April 2022 | [49] | |
| 55 | Crimean Human Rights Group | 13 May 2022 | 4 May 2022 | [49] | |
| 56 | Heinrich Böll Foundation | 31 May 2022 | 20 May 2022 | [49] | |
| 57 | Stichting Bellingcat | 26 July 2022 | 13 July 2022 | [49] | |
| 58 | Bellingcat | 26 July 2022 | 13 July 2022 | [49] | |
| 59 | The Insider | 26 July 2022 | 13 July 2022 | [49] | |
| 60 | CEELI Institute | 26 July 2022 | 13 July 2022 | [49] | |
| 61 | Open Estonia Foundation | 29 July 2022 | 19 July 2022 | [49] | |
| 62 | Calvert 22 Foundation | 12 August 2022 | 29 July 2022 | [49] | |
| 63 | Ukrainian Canadian Congress | 19 August 2022 | 4 August 2022 | [50] | |
| 64 | Macdonald–Laurier Institute | 19 August 2022 | 4 August 2022 | [50] | |
| 65 | Ukrainian National Federation of Canada | 19 August 2022 | 4 August 2022 | [50] | |
| 66 | Dekabristen | 25 October 2022 | 12 October 2022 | [51] | |
| 67 | Wilson Center | 25 November 2022 | 10 November 2022 | [52] | |
| 68 | Open Press | 25 November 2022 | 11 November 2022 | [52] | |
| 69 | Volodymyr Muntyan Renaissance Charity Foundation | 25 November 2022 | 16 November 2022 | [53] | |
| 70 | Renaissance Spiritual Center | 25 November 2022 | 16 November 2022 | [53] | |
| 71 | Riddle | 13 December 2022 | 25 November 2022 | [54] | |
| 72 | Anti-War Committee in Sweden «Russians Against War» | 10 January 2023 | 20 December 2022 | [55] | |
| 73 | Meduza | 7 February 2023 | 25 January 2023 | [56] | |
| 74 | Andrei Sakharov Foundation | 7 February 2023 | 23 January 2023 | [57] | |
| 75 | Free Russia Forum | 13 February 2023 | 30 January 2023 | [58] | |
| 76 | Free Nations League | 10 March 2023 | 17 February 2023 | [59] | |
| 77 | Transparency International | 21 March 2023 | 3 March 2023 | [60] | |
| 78 | Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum | 31 March 2023 | 15 March 2023 | [61] | |
| 79 | Solidarus | 5 April 2023 | 15 March 2023 | [62] | |
| 80 | CrimeaSOS | 5 April 2023 | 21 March 2023 | [63] | |
| 81 | Brīvā Universitāte (Free University) | 18 April 2023 | 30 March 2023 | [64] | |
| 82 | Institute for Statecraft | 25 April 2023 | 20 March 2023 | [65] | |
| 83 | EU—Russia Civil Society Forum | 25 April 2023 | 10 April 2023 | [66] | |
| 84 | Bellona Foundation | 2 May 2023 | 17 April 2023 | [67] | |
| 85 | League of Residents of Chishima and Habomai Islands | 11 May 2023 | 20 April 2023 | [68] | |
| 86 | Congress of People's Deputies | 18 May 2023 | 27 April 2023 | [69] | |
| 87 | Greenpeace | 29 May 2023 | 18 May 2023 | [70] | |
| 88 | Anti-Corruption Foundation | 1 June 2023 | 22 May 2023 | [71] | |
| 89 | Transformation Center (Church International, Covenant Network) | 27 June 2023 | 7 June 2023 | [72] | |
| 90 | Agora | 28 June 2023 | 14 June 2023 | [73] | |
| 91 | World Wide Fund for Nature | 5 July 2023 | 20 June 2023 | [74] | |
| 92 | Novaya Gazeta Europe | 14 July 2023 | 26 June 2023 | [75] | |
| 93 | Altai Project | 17 July 2023 | 3 July 2023 | [76] | |
| 94 | Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv | 24 July 2023 | 5 July 2023 | [77] | |
| 95 | Human Rights House Foundation | 24 July 2023 | 5 July 2023 | [77] | |
| 96 | Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House | 24 July 2023 | 5 July 2023 | [77] | |
| 97 | Human Rights House Tbilisi | 24 July 2023 | 5 July 2023 | [77] | |
| 98 | Human Rights House Yerevan | 24 July 2023 | 5 July 2023 | [77] | |
| 99 | Human Rights House Crimea | 24 July 2023 | 5 July 2023 | [77] | |
| 100 | Wild Salmon Center | 2 August 2023 | 17 July 2023 | [78] | |
| 101 | TVR Studios (TV Rain) | 4 August 2023 | 21 July 2023 | [79] | |
| 102 | TV Rain | 4 August 2023 | 21 July 2023 | [79] | |
| 103 | Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies | 15 August 2023 | 28 July 2023 | [80] | |
| 104 | Conflict Intelligence Team | 18 August 2023 | 4 August 2023 | [81] | |
| 105 | AllatRa | 18 August 2023 | 2 August 2023 | [82] | |
| 106 | For a Free Russia | 23 August 2023 | 11 August 2023 | [83] | |
| 107 | Free Buryatia Foundation | 12 September 2023 | 30 August 2023 | [84] | |
| 108 | URALIC Centre for Indigenous Peoples | 14 September 2023 | 30 August 2023 | [85] | |
| 109 | unKremlin | 18 September 2023 | 1 September 2023 | [86] | |
| 110 | International Transport Workers' Federation | 18 September 2023 | 1 September 2023 | [87] | |
| 111 | EastCham Finland | 26 September 2023 | 12 September 2023 | [88] | |
| 112 | Hudson Institute | 26 September 2023 | 13 September 2023 | [89] | |
| 113 | Foundation for Democratic Development | 11 October 2023 | 18 September 2023 | [90] | |
| 114 | Committee-2024 | 17 October 2023 | 26 September 2023 | [86] | |
| 115 | Central European University | 1 November 2023 | 18 September 2023 | [91] | |
| 116 | Centre for East European and International Studies | 1 November 2023 | 12 September 2023 | [92] | |
| 117 | Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Jehovah's Witnesses | 8 November 2023 | 12 October 2023 | [93] | |
| 118 | Religious Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Ukraine | 8 November 2023 | 12 October 2023 | [93] | |
| 119 | Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania | 8 November 2023 | 12 October 2023 | [93] | |
| 120 | Civic Council | 21 November 2023 | 3 November 2023 | [94] | |
| 121 | Center for European Policy Analysis | 27 November 2023 | 23 October 2023 | [95] | |
| 122 | Academic Network Eastern Europe | 4 December 2023 | 14 November 2023 | [96] | |
| 123 | Russian Action Committee | 4 December 2023 | 14 November 2023 | [96] | |
| 124 | RAND Corporation | 6 December 2023 | 21 November 2023 | [97] | |
| 125 | Russian America for Democracy in Russia | 25 December 2023 | 24 November 2023 | [98] | |
| 126 | True Russia | 25 December 2023 | 7 December 2023 | [98] | |
| 127 | Global Investigative Journalism Network | 25 December 2023 | 5 December 2023 | [98] | |
| 128 | Helpdesk Media Foundation | 26 December 2023 | 11 December 2023 | [98] | |
| 129 | Freies Russland Berlin | 26 January 2024 | 26 December 2023 | [99] | |
| 130 | Freies Russland NRW | 26 January 2024 | 26 December 2023 | [99] | |
| 131 | GlobalGiving | 26 January 2024 | 11 January 2024 | [99] | |
| 132 | Anti-War Committee of Russia | — | 31 January 2024 | 11 January 2024 | [100] |
| 133 | Russie-Libertés | 31 January 2024 | 11 January 2024 | [100] | |
| 134 | Association of Free Russians | 31 January 2024 | 11 January 2024 | [100] | |
| 135 | Alliance for the Return of the Northern Territories | 5 February 2024 | 23 January 2024 | [101] | |
| 136 | Crimean Tatar Resource Center | 5 February 2024 | 16 January 2024 | [101] | |
| 137 | IndustriALL Global Union | 5 February 2024 | 17 January 2024 | [101] | |
| 138 | Russian Election Monitor | 7 February 2024 | 19 January 2024 | [102] | |
| 139 | Article 19 | 8 February 2024 | 23 January 2024 | [102] | |
| 140 | Mnenie Media (Doxa) | 8 February 2024 | 15 January 2024 | [102] | |
| 141 | Anarchist Black Cross Federation | 16 February 2024 | 25 January 2024 | [103] | |
| 142 | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 20 February 2024 | 2 February 2024 | [104] | |
| 143 | German Association for East European Studies | 1 March 2024 | 14 February 2024 | [105] | |
| 144 | Friedrich Ebert Foundation | 1 March 2024 | 14 February 2024 | [105] | |
| 145 | XZ Foundation | 1 March 2024 | 14 February 2024 | [105] | |
| 146 | OWEN — Mobile Academy for Gender Democracy and Peacebuilding | 1 March 2024 | 14 February 2024 | [105] | |
| 147 | Lev Kopelev Forum | 13 March 2024 | 19 February 2024 | [106] | |
| 148 | American Councils for International Education | 18 March 2024 | 26 February 2024 | [107] | |
| 149 | Cultural Vistas | 18 March 2024 | 26 February 2024 | [107] | |
| 150 | Institute of International Education | 18 March 2024 | 26 February 2024 | [107] | |
| 151 | Russians Against War Antalya | 18 March 2024 | 27 February 2024 | [107] | |
| 152 | Open Dialogue Foundation | 25 March 2024 | 14 February 2024 | [108] | |
| 153 | Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy | 2 April 2024 | 13 March 2024 | [109] | |
| 154 | Russian Canadian Democratic Alliance | 2 April 2024 | 13 March 2024 | [109] | |
| 155 | Norman Paterson School of International Affairs | 2 April 2024 | 13 March 2024 | [109] | |
| 156 | Center for Civil Liberties | 16 April 2024 | 29 March 2024 | [110] | |
| 157 | Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom | 16 April 2024 | 13 March 2024 | [110] | |
| 158 | Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom | 16 April 2024 | 13 March 2024 | [110] | |
| 159 | Feminist Anti-War Resistance | — | 25 April 2024 | 9 April 2024 | [111] |
| 160 | Ingush Independence Committee | 2 May 2024 | 11 April 2024 | [112] | |
| 161 | Prometheus Security Environment Research Center | 15 May 2024 | 24 April 2024 | [113] | |
| 162 | KKL-Stop the Occupation of Karelia | 17 May 2024 | 25 April 2024 | [114] | |
| 163 | Come Back Alive | 17 May 2024 | 24 April 2024 | [114] | |
| 164 | Freedom House | 21 May 2024 | 6 May 2024 | [114] | |
| 165 | Sotaproject | 24 May 2024 | 7 May 2024 | [113] | |
| 166 | Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine | 3 June 2024 | 13 May 2024 | [115] | |
| 167 | German Historical Institute Moscow | 14 June 2024 | 30 May 2024 | [116] | |
| 168 | Great Commission Media Ministries | 21 June 2024 | 3 June 2024 | [117] | |
| 169 | International Russian Radio & Television | 21 June 2024 | 3 June 2024 | [117] | |
| 170 | Great Commission Media Ministries | 21 June 2024 | 3 June 2024 | [117] | |
| 171 | Dekoder | 1 July 2024 | 30 May 2024 | [118] | |
| 172 | Center for Strategic and International Studies | 1 July 2024 | 11 June 2024 | [118] | |
| 173 | Democratic Community of Russian-speakers in Finland | 8 July 2024 | 20 June 2024 | [119] | |
| 174 | Vuoksi Ry | 8 July 2024 | 20 June 2024 | [119] | |
| 175 | MitOst | 10 July 2024 | 20 June 2024 | [120] | |
| 176 | The John Smith Trust | 10 July 2024 | 26 June 2024 | [120] | |
| 177 | The Moscow Times | 17 July 2024 | 3 July 2024 | [121] | |
| 178 | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | 18 July 2024 | 1 July 2024 | [121] | |
| 179 | Assembly of the Peoples of the Caucasus | 2 August 2024 | 16 July 2024 | [122] | |
| 180 | EF Education First | 5 August 2024 | 16 July 2024 | [122] | |
| 181 | OSTMOST Foundation | 5 August 2024 | 16 July 2024 | [122] | |
| 182 | Konrad Adenauer Foundation | 14 August 2024 | 31 July 2024 | [123] | |
| 183 | Kulturus | 14 August 2024 | 30 July 2024 | [124] | |
| 184 | MRR-Fund (My Russian Rights) | 14 August 2024 | 30 July 2024 | [124] | |
| 185 | Russia Behind Bars | 14 August 2024 | 30 July 2024 | [124] | |
| 186 | For Your and Our Freedom | 14 August 2024 | 30 July 2024 | [124] | |
| 187 | Deputies of Peaceful Russia | 27 August 2024 | 13 August 2024 | [125] | |
| 188 | Clooney Foundation for Justice | 27 August 2024 | 14 August 2024 | [125] | |
| 189 | Belsat | 1 October 2024 | 11 September 2024 | [126] | |
| 190 | Humanitarian Fund 24/02 | 4 October 2024 | 18 September 2024 | [127] | |
| 191 | Media in Cooperation and Transition | 30 October 2024 | 7 October 2024 | [128] | |
| 192 | International Association of Intellectual Games | 14 November 2024 | 30 October 2024 | [129] | |
| 193 | YPO | 14 November 2024 | 30 October 2024 | [128] | |
| 194 | Human Rights Centre «ZMINA» | 20 November 2024 | 6 November 2024 | [130] | |
| 195 | The Satanic Temple | 19 December 2024 | 29 November 2024 | [131] | |
| 196 | Recorded Future | 9 January 2025 | 16 December 2024 | [132] | |
| 197 | Canadian Center for Development of Democracy in Russia | 10 January 2025 | 17 December 2024 | [133] | |
| 198 | Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe | 17 January 2025 | 16 December 2024 | [134] | |
| 199 | Help Heroes of Ukraine | 17 January 2025 | 20 December 2024 | [135] | |
| 200 | International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance | 17 January 2025 | 25 December 2024 | [136] | |
| 201 | OpenText | 30 January 2025 | 9 January 2025 | [137] | |
| 202 | Independent Institute of Philosophy | 30 January 2025 | 20 January 2025 | [138] | |
| 203 | Journalists in Need Network | 30 January 2025 | 25 December 2024 | [139] | |
| 204 | Compelson | 30 January 2025 | 9 January 2025 | [139] | |
| 205 | Register of Damage for Ukraine | 7 February 2025 | 22 January 2025 | [140] | |
| 206 | The Barents Observer | 18 February 2025 | 4 February 2025 | [141] | |
| 207 | Association of Free Russians | 3 March 2025 | 7 February 2025 | [142] | |
| 208 | Russian Democratic Society | 5 March 2025 | 19 February 2025 | [143] | |
| 209 | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party | 17 March 2025 | 24 February 2025 | [144] | |
| 210 | European Liberal Youth | 17 March 2025 | 24 February 2025 | [144] | |
| 211 | Rasmussen Global | 24 March 2025 | 5 March 2025 | [145] | |
| 212 | Association for the Development of Russian Civil Society and Support of Russian Emigrants | 24 March 2025 | 26 February 2025 | [146] | |
| 213 | For Ukraine, Their Freedom and Ours! | 26 March 2025 | 5 March 2025 | [147] | |
| 214 | European Leadership Network | 1 April 2025 | 10 March 2025 | [148] | |
| 215 | German Council on Foreign Relations | 1 April 2025 | 5 March 2025 | [149] | |
| 216 | Elton John AIDS Foundation | 14 April 2025 | 21 March 2025 | [150] | |
| 217 | Justice for Journalists | 14 April 2025 | 21 March 2025 | [151] | |
| 218 | Elton John AIDS Foundation | 14 April 2025 | 21 March 2025 | [150] | |
| 219 | Hanns Seidel Foundation | 18 April 2025 | 21 March 2025 | [152] | |
| 220 | Northern Territories Issue Association | 18 April 2025 | 3 April 2025 | [153] | |
| 221 | Hope Harbor Society | 22 April 2025 | 31 March 2025 | [154] | |
| 222 | Community of Free Russians | 7 May 2025 | 10 April 2025 | [155] | |
| 223 | International Indigenous Fund for Development and Solidarity Batani | 14 May 2025 | 11 April 2025 | [156] | |
| 224 | Association of Investigative Journalists — Fund 19/29 | 22 May 2025 | 11 April 2025 | [157] | |
| 225 | Association «Polish Community» | 22 May 2025 | 21 April 2025 | [158] | |
| 226 | Amnesty International | 28 May 2025 | 12 May 2025 | [159] | |
| 227 | Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity | 28 May 2025 | 12 May 2025 | [160] | |
| 228 | Brigham Young University | 2 June 2025 | 29 April 2025 | [161] | |
| 229 | Körber Foundation | 2 June 2025 | 29 April 2025 | [161] | |
| 230 | Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies | 3 June 2025 | 12 May 2025 | [162] | |
| 231 | Radio Echo | 3 June 2025 | 12 May 2025 | [162] | |
| 232 | Institute for Human Sciences | 3 June 2025 | 12 May 2025 | [163] | |
| 233 | NoWar Human Rights Movement | 11 June 2025 | 12 May 2025 | [164] | |
| 234 | British Council | 11 June 2025 | 26 May 2025 | [165] | |
| 235 | Global Network of Sex Work Projects | 19 June 2025 | 30 May 2025 | [166] | |
| 236 | Democratic Community of Russians in Cyprus | 19 June 2025 | 30 May 2025 | [166] | |
| 237 | Razom | 24 June 2025 | 9 June 2025 | [167] | |
| 238 | Sex Workers' Rights Advocacy Network | 24 June 2025 | 3 June 2025 | [168] | |
| 239 | Eurasian Harm Reduction Association | 2 July 2025 | 16 June 2025 | [169] | |
| 240 | European Resilience Initiative Centre | 2 July 2025 | 11 June 2025 | [170] | |
| 241 | Norwegian Helsinki Committee | 11 July 2025 | 24 June 2025 | [170] | |
| 242 | Yale University | 11 July 2025 | 23 June 2025 | [171] | |
| 243 | Army SOS | 11 July 2025 | 23 June 2025 | [170] | |
| 244 | Civil network community «Peace. Progress. Human Rights» | — | 22 July 2025 | 1 July 2025 | [172] |
| 245 | Andrei Sakharov Institute | 22 July 2025 | 1 July 2025 | [172] | |
| 246 | Robert Carr Fund | 1 August 2025 | 4 July 2025 | [173] | |
| 247 | East View Information Services | 4 August 2025 | 4 July 2025 | [173] | |
| 248 | n-ost | 4 August 2025 | 4 July 2025 | [173] | |
| 249 | Rosa Luxemburg Foundation | 4 August 2025 | 15 July 2025 | [174] | |
| 250 | International House World Organisation | 7 August 2025 | 16 July 2025 | [175] | |
| 251 | UnMode — Community Movement for Access to Justice | 7 August 2025 | 21 July 2025 | [175] | |
| 252 | Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights | 11 August 2025 | 25 July 2025 | [176] | |
| 253 | Group 36 | 14 August 2025 | 25 July 2025 | [177] | |
| 254 | Reporters Without Borders | 14 August 2025 | 23 July 2025 | [177] | |
| 255 | Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future | 18 August 2025 | 1 August 2025 | [178] | |
| 256 | Zimin Foundation | 18 August 2025 | 30 July 2025 | [179] | |
| 257 | Netherlands Helsinki Committee | 18 August 2025 | 1 August 2025 | [180] | |
| 258 | Demokrati-JA | 21 August 2025 | 6 August 2025 | [181] | |
| 259 | ProtectDefenders.eu | 26 August 2025 | 6 August 2025 | [182] | |
| 260 | Civic Solidarity Platform | — | 26 August 2025 | 6 August 2025 | [182] |
| 261 | Human Rights Funders Network | 4 September 2025 | 13 August 2025 | [183] | |
| 262 | Royal United Services Institute | 4 September 2025 | 8 August 2025 | [184] | |
| 263 | International Baccalaureate | 4 September 2025 | 15 August 2025 | [185] | |
| 264 | Friede Allen | 16 September 2025 | 15 August 2025 | [186] | |
| 265 | AFS Intercultural Programs | 25 September 2025 | 9 September 2025 | [187] | |
| 266 | Initiative for Resistance and Dialogues | 1 October 2025 | 9 September 2025 | [188] | |
| 267 | Eurasian Network of People Who Use Drugs | 1 October 2025 | 8 September 2025 | [188] | |
| 268 | Bart-Marsho | 2 October 2025 | 17 September 2025 | [188] | |
| 269 | Assembly of Chechens of Europe | 2 October 2025 | 17 September 2025 | [188] | |
| 270 | Correctiv | 8 October 2025 | 16 September 2025 | [189] | |
| 271 | International Center for Journalists | 30 October 2025 | 17 September 2025 | [190] | |
| 272 | Truth Hounds | 30 October 2025 | 16 September 2025 | [190] | |
| 273 | Ideas for Change | 30 October 2025 | 17 September 2025 | [190] | |
| 274 | JX Fund | 30 October 2025 | 17 September 2025 | [190] | |
| 275 | Nordic Council of Ministers | 7 November 2025 | 24 October 2025 | [191] | |
| 276 | Equal Rights Trust | 13 November 2025 | 1 November 2025 | [192] | |
| 277 | Free Peoples of Russia House | 24 November 2025 | 10 November 2025 | [193] | |
| 278 | Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project | 24 November 2025 | 7 November 2025 | [193] | |
| 279 | Human Rights Watch | 28 November 2025 | 10 November 2025 | [194] | |
| 280 | GSC Game World | 28 November 2025 | 13 November 2025 | [195] | |
| 281 | International Federation for Human Rights | 1 December 2025 | 13 November 2025 | [196] | |
| 282 | Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group | 2 December 2025 | 19 November 2025 | [197] | |
| 283 | Turkic Revival Front | 4 December 2025 | 19 November 2025 | [197] | |
| 284 | İMKANDER | 4 December 2025 | 24 November 2025 | [197] | |
| 285 | Civic Council Support Foundation | 4 December 2025 | 21 November 2025 | [197] | |
| 286 | Alliance for a Free and Democratic Russia | 15 December 2025 | 1 December 2025 | [198] | |
| 287 | Nature and Youth | 15 December 2025 | 2 December 2025 | [198] | |
| 288 | For Free Russia | 15 December 2025 | 1 December 2025 | [198] | |
| 289 | House of Ingria | 15 December 2025 | 1 December 2025 | [198] | |
| 290 | Deutsche Welle | 15 December 2025 | 1 December 2025 | [198] | |
| 291 | Stichting Justice Initiative | 18 December 2025 | 2 December 2025 | [199] | |
Russia's human rights ombudsperson Ella Pamfilova said the power given to the Prosecutor General to designate groups "undesirable" without going to court contradicts the Russian constitution and condemned the lack of a right to appeal. [200] [201]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesperson said that the law was an attempt to further isolate and discredit members of civil society who were critical of the government. [202]
Britain's Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said it was "yet another example of the Russian authorities' harassment of NGOs and those who work with them in Russia". [203]
The US State Department stated it was "deeply troubled" by the law and expressed concern that it "will further restrict the work of civil society in Russia and is a further example of the Russian government's growing crackdown on independent voices and intentional steps to isolate the Russian people from the world". [204] The Deputy Chief of the US Mission to the OSCE Permanent Council urged the Russian government "to uphold its international obligations and OSCE commitments to respect the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the rule of law." [205]
Amnesty International said the bill would "squeeze the life" from civil society, while Human Rights Watch warned it would be locals who would be worst-hit. [206] Veteran human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva described the law as "another step toward lowering the curtain between our country and the West." [6]
On 13 June 2016, the opinion of the Venice Commission on Russian undesirable organizations law was published. [207] According to the Venice Commission conclusion, Russian undesirable organizations law consists of vague definition of certain key concepts, such as "non-governmental organisations", which determines whether the activities of a foreign or international NGO may be declared undesirable, "directing of" and "participating in" the activities of a listed NGO, coupled with the wide discretion granted to the Office of the Public Prosecutor and the lack of specific judicial guarantees in the Federal Law, contradicts the principle of legality. The automatic legal consequences (blanket prohibitions) imposed upon NGOs whose activities are declared undesirable (prohibition to organise and conduct mass actions and public events or to distribute information materials) may only be acceptable in extreme cases of NGOs constituting serious threat to the security of the state or to fundamental democratic principles. In other instances, the blanket application of these sanctions might contradict the requirement under the European Convention on Human Rights that the interference with the freedom of association and assembly has to respond to a pressing social need and has to be proportional to the legitimate aim pursued. Furthermore, the inclusion of an NGO in the List should be made on the basis of clear and detailed criteria following a judicial decision or, at least, the decision should be subject to an appropriate judicial appeal.