By AFP | 2025-12-04

Human Rights Watch will not stop investigating Russia or the actions of its military in Ukraine, despite Moscow declaring it an "undesirable" organization on November 28, the New York-based group told AFP.

In an interview, the influential body said it was "not surprised" by the designation -- which effectively criminalizes it in Russia and anyone who works with them -- and vowed to continue its work remotely.

Human Rights Watch has not had a physical presence in Russia since authorities closed its Moscow offices in 2022.

"We are actually going to work even harder to expose the staggering crackdown by the Kremlin on Russian civil society and to report on Russian crimes in Ukraine," Tanya Lokshina, senior associate director of the group's Europe and Central Asia division, told AFP.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country's justice ministry has banned dozens of groups critical of Kremlin policy or Moscow's conduct in the war.

Human Rights Watch, which investigates and publishes reports on abuses perpetrated by militaries and governments worldwide, has repeatedly condemned the war and accused the Russian military of carrying out a "litany of violations" in Ukraine -- a charge Moscow denies.

Among other organizations labelled as "undesirable" in Russia are the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, Amnesty International and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The label makes anyone who works with a group or donates money to them liable to prosecution in Russia.

Broadening 'undesirable organizations' law

In 2024, Russia's parliament voted on a bill that would make it possible to outlaw as "undesirable" any foreign organization. President Vladimir Putin signed it into law in August that year.

The law, which had already been used to prevent independent media and rights groups from operating in Russia, previously covered only foreign non-governmental organizations. But the legislation removed the word "non-governmental" -- opening up the possibility that any foreign organization could be affected.

The amended legislation also added new wording saying it covers any "foreign or international organization that is not part of the organs of state power of a foreign state," but whose "founders or participants are state organs of a foreign country."

One of the bill's authors, Vasily Piskaryov, in comments to Russian media said British, German and Japanese organizations could fall under the new legislation.

The MP referred to the British Council, a cultural and educational organization banned from operating in Russia since 2018; Germany's Deutsche Welle broadcaster, also banned from working in Russia; and Japan's Northern Territories Issue Association, which campaigns over a territorial dispute with Russia.

"Any organization that works against our country should be recognized as undesirable and repudiated," Piskaryov told Duma TV.

The "undesirable" status forces organizations to shut down in Russia and means Russians that work for, fund or collaborate with them can also be liable to prosecution.

In a note, lawmakers who authored the bill said that it was aimed at "minimizing destructive influence" on Russian social and political institutions.

Russia first drew up a list of "undesirable" organizations in 2015.

The list now has over 170 entries, including The Moscow Times, a long-standing independent media outlet, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a US think tank.

Under the law, those who lead an "undesirable" organization can serve up to six years in prison, while any form of participation can be punishable by up to four years in prison.