Russia declares the NGO Greenpeace “undesirable”

2023-05-19 16:54:08

Russia declared on Friday May 19 “undesirable” the environmental protection NGO Greenpeace, a measure which de facto prohibits its activities in the country, which has been carrying out strong repression since the Kremlin offensive in Ukraine.

In a statement, the Russian General Prosecutor’s Office said that « Greenpeace International »headquartered in the Netherlands, represented a “threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and to security” of Russia and sought to “overthrow power unconstitutionally”.

The prosecution also accuses the NGO of encouraging “interference” in the internal affairs of the country, to seek to “undermine its economic foundations” and to finance Russian organizations qualified by the authorities of“foreign agents”.

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Greenpeace is also accused of leading ” regularly “ of the “information campaigns” aiming to “prevent the realization of profitable infrastructure and energy projects” for Russia, again according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The latter also accused Greenpeace of conducting a “anti-Russian propaganda” and call “to strengthen the sanctions” against Russia since the start of the military campaign in Ukraine.

Repression of critical voices

The Russian branch of Greenpeace, opened in 1992, carries out operations in the country to raise awareness of climate change, to fight against forest fires, against pollution, and to preserve endangered animal species. During the forest fires that regularly ravage Russia, one of the countries most exposed to the effects of climate change, professionals and volunteers from Greenpeace intervene, for example, to push the authorities to act.

In Russia, according to the specialized NGO OVD-Info, organizations classified “undesirables” are prohibited from opening structures, carrying out projects and disseminating information. Since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine, the Russian authorities have greatly accelerated the repression of critical voices.

Far from being confined to the political opposition, this repression affects all areas, such as cultural circles and environmental organizations. In March, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) had been classified in Russia “foreign agent”an infamous label that greatly complicates its activities in the country.

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The World with AFP