Russia outlaws Amnesty International, labels it an “undesirable organization”

Protests in Kyiv for the release of prisoners of war. Pic/AFP

The Russian authorities on Monday outlawed Amnesty International as an "undesirable organization", a label that under a 2015 law makes involvement with such organisations a criminal offense.

The decision by the Russian Prosecutor General's office, announced in an online statement, is the latest in the unrelenting crackdown on Kremlin critics, journalists and activists that intensified to unprecedented levels after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The designation means the international human rights group must stop any work in Russia and it subjects those who cooperate with it or support it to prosecution.
Russia's list of "undesirable organisations" currently covers 223 entities, including prominent independent news outlets and rights 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 also released reports on Russia's war in Ukraine.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever