Laws in Russia’s State Duma have been expanded to allow for the blacklisting of any entity affiliated with a foreign government as “undesirable”. This law, originally created in 2015 to target foreign-funded NGOs, has since been extended to include independent news outlets, human rights groups, environmental organizations, and educational institutions. The recent amendments give the Justice Ministry the power to label any state-sponsored entity as “undesirable” and impose criminal penalties similar to those for NGOs, including up to four years in prison for members and up to six years for leaders.
There are concerns among experts that the new legislation could be used to target state-backed media outlets such as the BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Deutsche Welle. The bill must pass through the upper-house Federation Council and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. Once an organization is designated as “undesirable”, they must cease all operations within Russia, and it is illegal for individuals and media outlets to republish or share their content. The Justice Ministry has already labeled 178 organizations as “undesirable”, including The Moscow Times.
Critics of these laws argue that they are being used to suppress dissent and stifle freedom of speech in Russia. By expanding the criteria for blacklisting organizations as “undesirable” to include any entity affiliated with a foreign government, the government is able to target a broader range of organizations and individuals. This has raised concerns about the impact on civil society, media freedom, and the ability of individuals to express dissenting views.
The Russian government maintains that these laws are necessary to protect national security and prevent foreign interference in domestic affairs. They argue that organizations labeled as “undesirable” are working against the interests of the Russian state and must be stopped. However, human rights groups and other organizations have criticized the laws as being arbitrary and heavy-handed. They argue that they are being used to target legitimate organizations and individuals who are critical of the government.
The international community has also raised concerns about the impact of Russia’s “undesirable” organization laws on freedom of expression and association. The European Union and the United States have criticized the laws as restrictive and a violation of human rights. They have called on Russia to respect freedom of speech and allow for the peaceful expression of dissenting views. However, the Russian government has rejected these criticisms and continues to enforce the laws, targeting organizations and individuals that they deem to be a threat to national security.
Overall, the expansion of Russia’s laws on “undesirable” organizations to include any entity affiliated with a foreign government has raised concerns about the erosion of freedom of speech and civil society in the country. Critics argue that the laws are being used to suppress dissent and target legitimate organizations and individuals who are critical of the government. The international community has also expressed concerns about the impact of these laws on freedom of expression and association. It remains to be seen how these laws will be enforced in the future and what impact they will have on civil society in Russia.
