Russia: Proposal to ban participation in undesirable organisations
Proposal to ban participation in the work of undesirable organisations
03.04.2024
Article published on the ASI website
On 2 April, bills were submitted to the Russian State Duma to establish liability for participating in the work of undesirable organisations, i.e.:
- “Limitation for bringing to administrative liability” and “Participation in the work of foreign or international non-governmental organisations in respect of which a decision has been taken to declare its activities undesirable in the territory of the Russian Federation” under Article 4.5 and 20.33 of the State’s Administrative Offences Code;
- “Carrying out activities of foreign or international organisations in respect of which a decision has been taken to declare its activities undesirable in the territory of the Russian Federation” under Article 284 of the State’s Criminal Code.
The authors of this draft legislation propose to remove the word “non-governmental” in relation to an undesirable organisation from the provisions of the Federation’s Criminal and Administrative Offences Codes. These changes would establish liability for participating in the work of undesirable organisations, even those which have been founded by foreign bodies. By taking part in these activities, citizens could be fined as much as 500,000 roubles or face up to four years in prison.
Vasily Piskarev, co-author of the proposal and Chair of the Duma’s Security and Anti-Corruption Committee, stated that the activities of a foreign organisation can be declared undesirable in Russia if they threaten the constitutional order or security of the country.
