Russia lists Polish foundation as undesirable organisation

26 March 2024 | Author: IAR/dad

The Russian prosecutor’s office has declared the Open Dialogue Foundation, which operates in Poland, undesirable. The independent Mediazona portal wrote that the decision was made on 14 February, but it is only now that the Russian Justice Ministry has included the organisation on a special register. The portal’s journalists said it was unclear what specifically motivated the decision.

The Polish Open Dialogue Foundation has long been the target of Russian services and propagandists for its condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine and support for Ukrainian refugees. This was confirmed by the Foundation’s Vice-President Marcin Mycielski in an interview with Polish Radio. “This unusual recognition of our work is a little overdue, as over the past two years we have provided Ukraine with support of more than PLN 40 million, states the Vice-President. Marcin Mycielski added that such actions from Russia had been expected by the Foundation, as the organisation was being dissected on portals linked to Russian services by pro-Kremlin analysts who published pasquinades about it.”

The Open Dialogue Foundation was established in Poland in 2009 on the initiative of Ukrainian student and civic activist Lyudmyla Kozlovska. It works to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the post-Soviet area. Following Russia’s 2022 attack on Ukraine, the Open Dialogue Foundation has been supporting Ukrainian refugees.

In 2015, a law on so-called “undesirable foreign and international organisations” was passed in Russia. The Kremlin blacklisted all major organisations that defend human rights and civil liberties, monitor democratic processes and support the development of civil society.

Being included on the list of “undesirable organisations” entails a complete ban on operation. Violation of the ban results in fines and prison sentences.

Source: polskieradio.pl

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