The Moscow Meshchansky District Court has received a formal claim seeking the liquidation of the Russian PEN Center. The filing, reported by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, identifies the plaintiff as the Ministry itself. The case is noted as an online matter with the governing authority directly involved in the action.
According to the administrative claim filed by the Ministry of Justice, the objective is the liquidation of a branch of a foreign non-governmental organization, the Russian branch of the International PEN Club, known as the Russian PEN Center. Preliminary proceedings were scheduled for October 30, 2023, the ministry stated in its official release. The statement does not specify any particular justification for the lawsuit beyond that procedural framework.
The Ministry of Justice has not disclosed a stated rationale for pursuing the case in its public communications. The action centers on the status of the Russian PEN Center as a branch of an international organization committed to supporting writers, poets, and journalists who face persecution for their expressions and words. The international PEN Club itself traces its origins to London, founded in 1921, with the Russian branch established in 1989 as part of PEN’s expanded global network.
In May 2023, the Ministry of Justice designated the St. Petersburg Russian PEN Club as a foreign agent, adding the organization to the government’s list of entities required to register as foreign agents. This designation has been part of a broader government framework that has applied scrutiny to various non-profit organizations operating within Russia and connected to external funding or foreign affiliations. The treatment of PEN-related groups reflects ongoing government concerns about civil society and freedom of expression in the country.
Historically, the Russian state has taken steps to liquidate or reform several cultural and civil society institutions. Notably, the Sakharov Center in Moscow faced closure proceedings in past years, illustrating a pattern of regulatory actions that affect independent cultural and rights-focused organizations. Experts and observers have often described these developments as part of the broader climate for non-profit associations and free expression in Russia, where legal status and funding structures can be decisive factors in the operations of such groups. (Source: Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation)
These legal and organizational dynamics are set against the backdrop of Russia’s evolving framework for non-profit organizations and foreign-affiliated groups. The case concerning the Russian PEN Center is part of a larger conversation about how cultural, literary, and human-rights advocacy groups navigate regulatory requirements, funding transparency, and state oversight. While the Ministry of Justice has not issued a public explanation beyond the procedural claims, analysts note that the outcome of such suits can have implications for similar organizations seeking to maintain their activities within the Russian legal landscape and international partnerships. (Source: Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation)