Russia’s prosecutor general on Monday, May 19, 2025, banned Amnesty International Limited, labeling it an “undesirable organisation.”
Officials accused the London-based rights group of supporting Ukraine and promoting what they called “global Russophobic projects.”
Authorities claimed Amnesty justified Ukrainian military actions and pushed for increased funding of “Ukrainian neo-Nazis,” a term widely dismissed as Russian propaganda.
The prosecutor’s statement said Amnesty’s London office acted as a central hub for anti-Russian operations.
Founded in 1961, Amnesty International campaigns for human rights and supports prisoners of conscience worldwide.
Russia now considers any Russian citizen working with Amnesty liable for criminal prosecution.
Russian law allows up to five years in prison for involvement with “undesirable” foreign organisations.
Amnesty International did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for a statement on the ban.
The ban follows recent moves against other high-profile groups, including RFE/RL and Greenpeace International.
Russian authorities increasingly target foreign NGOs that criticize its human rights record or its war in Ukraine.
Russia’s “undesirable organisations” law enables the state to suppress groups it considers threats to national security.
International watchdogs say Russia uses the law to silence dissent and restrict foreign influence.
Russia often labels Ukraine’s government as “neo-Nazi” to justify its invasion, a claim rejected by Ukraine and Western nations.
Experts widely view these claims as baseless and part of a broader disinformation campaign.
Human rights advocates are likely to condemn the ban as part of Russia’s broader crackdown on civil society.
The move could intensify already strained relations between Russia and international human rights institutions.
Rights landscape shrinks in Russia
Russia’s designation of Amnesty International as undesirable further isolates it from global civil society networks.
As the war in Ukraine continues, international NGOs face increasing pressure under Russia’s expanding legal restrictions.
