Russia labels Yulia Navalnaya-led Human Rights Foundation as undesirable organization

Russia’s prosecutor’s office declared the Human Rights Foundation, a New York NGO chaired by Yulia Navalnaya, an “undesirable organization,” effectively outlawing its operations within the country. The designation carries criminal liability for any Russian who collaborates with the group or disseminates its content. In its statement, the office cited the foundation’s “Tyranny Tracker” project, which labeled Russia a “fully authoritarian regime,” and alleged that HRF was engaged in discrediting the Russian armed forces, supporting anti-Russian sanctions, and aiding other undesirable entities.

The move follows a pattern of Moscow adding hundreds of NGOs, media outlets and academic institutions to the list since 2015. HRF’s chief legal and policy officer Javier El-Hage responded that criminalising the organization only confirms its assessment of the Kremlin’s dictatorship. The action underscores the continued tightening of civil-society space in Russia.