**Russia Designates Record Number of Organizations as “Undesirable”**
The Russian government has added a record 65 organizations to its list of “undesirable” groups in 2024, according to the independent Russian outlet Verstka. This brings the total number of organizations on the list to 187.
Since 2015, Russia’s law on “undesirable” organizations has been used to target perceived opponents of President Vladimir Putin, including NGOs, independent media outlets, and human rights groups. In previous years, only a few organizations were added to the list each year. However, in recent years, the number has increased significantly, with 50 organizations being designated as “undesirable” in 2023.
Some notable organizations on the list include the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) and the Moscow Times, an independent Russian media outlet. Employees and affiliates of these organizations are now at risk of criminal prosecution, with leaders facing up to six years in prison and members risking prison sentences of up to four years.
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