Russia’s Attorney General announced on Monday that she banned the Human Rights Group Amnesty International as an “unwanted organization”, accusing her of supporting Ukraine against Russia.
Founded in 1961 and headquartered in London, Amnesty International campaigns for human rights worldwide, including on behalf of those that designates as prisoners of conscience.
In his statement, Russia’s Attorney General said the Amnesty International Office in London is a “Global Russophobic Project Preparation Center” and accused her of defending Ukraine, which Russia is at war, and “doing everything possible to intensify military confrontation in the region”.
“They justify the crimes of the Ukrainian neo-Nazis, ask for an increase in their funding and insist on the political and economic isolation of our country,” said the Attorney General.
Russian authorities regularly accuse Ukraine to be dominated by “neo -Nazis,” an accusation seen in Ukraine, the West, and other countries such as unruly propaganda.
A did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russia regularly designates organizations that, according to her, impair their national security as “undesirable”. The designation determines penalties of up to five years in prison for Russian citizens who work with designated groups or finance them.
Previously banned organizations as undesirable include the US government -funded RFE/RL broadcaster and the Greenpeace international environmental organization.
