Russia bans Amnesty International Limited as undesirable organisation

MOSCOW – Russia’s prosecutor general said on May 19 it had banned human rights group Amnesty International Limited as an “undesirable organisation”, accusing it of backing Ukraine against Russia.

Founded in 1961 and headquartered in London, Amnesty International campaigns for human rights across the world, including on behalf of those it designates prisoners of conscience.

In its statement, Russia’s prosecutor general said that Amnesty International Limited’s London office was a “centre for the preparation of global Russophobic projects”, and accused it of advocating of behalf of Ukraine, with which Russia is at war.

It accused Amnesty of “doing everything possible to intensify the military confrontation in the region”.
“They justify the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, call for an increase in their funding, and insist on the political and economic isolation of our country,” said the prosecutor general.

Russian officials regularly accuse Ukraine of being dominated by “neo-Nazis”, an accusation seen in Ukraine, the West and other countries as baseless propaganda.

Amnesty did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Russia regularly designates organisations it says undermine its national security as “undesirable”. The designation mandates penalties of up to five years in prison for Russian citizens working with or funding designated groups.

Organisations previously banned as undesirable include United States government-funded broadcaster RFE/RL and international environmental organisation Greenpeace. REUTERS

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