Russian authorities have outlawed Amnesty International as an "undesirable organization," marking a significant escalation in the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent. The designation, announced by the Russian Prosecutor General's office on Monday, effectively bans the global human rights group from operating in the country and criminalizes any collaboration with it, including sharing its reports on social media.

Criminalization of Human Rights Work

The decision means that anyone found supporting Amnesty International's work in Russia could face prosecution, potentially including criminal charges. The law, first introduced in 2015, has been used to silence independent voices, including media outlets, anti-corruption organizations, and election monitors. The crackdown intensified following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, targeting a wide range of activists and independent journalists.

Amnesty International has long been critical of Moscow's human rights record, recently condemning the arrest of prominent election activist Grigory Melkonyants as a "politically motivated clampdown." The organization has also highlighted Russia's alleged war crimes in Ukraine, further straining relations with the Kremlin. The ban adds Amnesty to a growing list of 223 "undesirable organizations," which also includes Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Transparency International, and the opposition group Open Russia.

The ban on Amnesty International is part of a broader effort by the Russian government to suppress dissent and silence critics. This latest move underscores the challenges facing human rights defenders in Russia, as the government seeks to limit foreign influence and control the flow of information within its borders. The decision comes amid an ongoing crackdown that has targeted activists, independent journalists, and opposition figures in the years since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine