The prosecutor’s office accused the human rights group of spreading “Russophobic plans” and supporting Ukraine, making any cooperation with the organization a criminal offense under Russian law.
Russian authorities on Monday declared Amnesty International an “undesirable organization,” effectively outlawing the prominent human rights group from operating in the country. The move marks another escalation in the Kremlin’s sweeping crackdown on dissent, independent media, and civil society.
In a statement, the Russian prosecutor general’s office accused the London-based organization of orchestrating “Russophobic plans on a global scale” and of being funded by “accomplices of the Kyiv regime.” The designation, under a 2015 law, makes it a criminal offense to collaborate with or publicly support the organization, including sharing its reports online.
“Amnesty International’s London headquarters is a center for preparing Russophobic schemes worldwide,” the statement said, adding that the NGO “has done everything possible to intensify the military confrontation in the region, justify the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, and advocate for greater funding and political isolation of Russia.”
Amnesty International, which was founded in 1961, is known for documenting human rights abuses globally and campaigning for the release of political prisoners. The group has been highly critical of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, publishing detailed reports on war crimes and systemic repression inside Russia.
The move places Amnesty among 223 organizations now banned by Russia as “undesirable,” a list that includes major independent news agencies and rights groups. While the group had long faced growing pressure from Russian authorities, the official designation means that even individuals who repost Amnesty materials could face legal consequences.
The organization has not yet issued an official response to the ban. On its website, Amnesty refers to Russia’s actions in Ukraine as a “war of aggression” and denounces the Kremlin’s stifling of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
The crackdown comes amid growing repression inside Russia. The government has intensified legal actions under wartime censorship laws and anti-terror legislation, sentencing dozens of people to lengthy prison terms for opposing the war or expressing dissenting views.
Amnesty’s latest annual report noted that, in 2024 alone, Russian courts labeled 169 media outlets, organizations, and individuals as “foreign agents,” while 65 were declared “undesirable.” In addition, at least 171 people were convicted under wartime laws, with dozens more cases pending.
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