The Russian Ministry of Justice has added the Polish NGO Fundacja Otwarty Dialog (Open Dialogue Foundation) to the register of "undesirable" organizations.
The Open Dialogue Foundation began its work in 2009, founded by Ukrainian student and civil activist Lyudmyla Kozlovska. The organization specializes in human rights protection and the observance of democratic principles in post-Soviet countries and within the European Union.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the foundation has been involved in organizing humanitarian aid deliveries to Ukrainian refugees.
Open Dialogue has also participated in campaigns to free Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia, including filmmaker Oleg Sentsov and pilot Nadiya Savchenko.
Currently, there are 157 organizations listed as "undesirable." For example, on February 20, the Russian Ministry of Justice added the corporation "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty" to the list of "undesirable" organizations.
Organizations are included in the "undesirable" list if their activities, according to the Russian authorities, pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system, security, or defense capability of the country. Being listed means that these organizations are prohibited from operating in the country, and Russian citizens are prohibited from cooperating with them under the threat of criminal prosecution. Collaborating with "undesirable" organizations and financing them in Russia carries criminal liability, with penalties of up to five years of imprisonment.
