The Wikimedia.ru community, the Russian arm of Wikipedia, is set to shut down. Stanislav Kozlovsky, the NGO’s general director, shared this with socialbites.ca. He warned that next Friday, December 22, a decision might label him a foreign agent, a move that would complicate the project’s operations.
“From what I understand, this notice about potential foreign-agent status was handed to the rectorate of Moscow State University, where I worked for nearly a quarter of a century. I was fired yesterday. More precisely, they asked me to resign of my own will. After that, we held a meeting at Wikimedia.ru. We concluded that the risks are too great for the organization to bear. So, we will close the entity,” Kozlovsky stated.
He added that he does not know exactly what foreign funding the Russian Justice Ministry might have identified. He speculated that the possible designation of a foreign representative could be linked to Wikipedia itself.
“Chances are it is connected to Wikipedia. Some form of foreign grant. But I am also an employee at Moscow State University, and I travel to the Baku branch on business. Perhaps they want to designate me as a foreign agent of Azerbaijan. I can’t be sure. In any case, the organization will be closed,” the Wikimedia.ru chief explained.
Kozlovsky noted that if the foreign-agent label is assigned, he does not intend to leave Russia because there is nowhere else to go for him and his work. He also mused about the implications for his career, indicating that he would not be permitted to give lectures or publish popular science books as a foreign representative. He said he would consider his options, continuing to think about the path ahead.
Earlier reports indicated that Russian Wikipedia employees had operated discreetly through the Russian Wikipedia project itself.
Context surrounding the potential foreign-agent status has drawn attention to the broader pressures faced by independent and community-driven online encyclopedias in the region. Observers note that such classifications not only affect funding and governance but also the ability of researchers and educators connected to these projects to conduct public-facing work. The development underscores a trend where nonprofit organizations linked to information and education face heightened scrutiny from authorities, with real consequences for staff and volunteers alike.
In the days ahead, stakeholders in digital knowledge initiatives will be watching closely how the situation develops, especially regarding any formal actions taken by government agencies and the possible ripple effects on similar projects within Russia. The implications extend beyond Wikimedia.ru, touching on the stability of volunteer-driven knowledge platforms, the continuity of local language content, and the broader climate for civil society organizations engaged in public education and open information dissemination.
As the narrative unfolds, the core questions linger about how such decisions are communicated, what criteria are used to determine foreign-agent status, and what safeguards exist for communities that rely on these platforms for reliable information access. The case also invites a closer look at how international collaborations and funding structures intersect with national policy, especially in the realm of educational resources and the dissemination of free knowledge in the digital age. The people behind Wikimedia.ru—staff, volunteers, and supporters—will likely be drawn into conversations about governance, funding transparency, and the resilience of information-sharing networks under political pressure.
Speaking with confidence about the situation, Kozlovsky reiterated that the decision to shut Wikimedia.ru reflects a careful weighing of risk. It is not a choice made lightly, but one that aims to preserve the integrity and safety of those involved while recognizing the constraints posed by regulatory scrutiny. The closing of Wikimedia.ru marks a significant moment in the story of online encyclopedias in Russia and highlights the ongoing tension between open knowledge initiatives and evolving government expectations.