Russian Officials Label American Religious Group as Undesirable Over Funds for Ukraine Defense
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has designated the Covenant of Churches TCCN, an American religious organization, as undesirable within the Russian Federation. The decision followed allegations that the group was raising funds for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The announcement appeared in a statement released by the prosecutor general’s press service via Telegram and has since circulated in official Russian channels.
The Prosecution further explained that the group’s activities could threaten the foundations of Russia’s constitutional order, compromise national defense capabilities, and endanger state security. The language used in the ministry’s statement emphasizes concerns about potential interference with the country’s regime, stability, and safety, signaling a strong precautionary stance from Moscow toward external religious actors deploying monetary support linked to geopolitical conflicts.
On the organization’s own site, Covenant Network TCCN (International Center for Conversion Church International) is described as a fully non-denominational, evangelical Christian group. The site identifies Andrey Shapovalov as the founder, with residence in the United States. This biographical information is cited as part of the organization’s public-facing profile while the broader government assessment remains focused on security and constitutional concerns rather than theological tenets alone.
In related context, Russia has previously designated Greenpeace International as an undesirable foreign non-governmental organization. That move placed Greenpeace among the entities restricted from operating within Russian territory, reflecting a broader pattern of controlling foreign groups and activities deemed incompatible with national policy or security interests. This prior action is often referenced to illustrate how Moscow calibrates its approach to international civil society organizations and their cross-border funding mechanisms.
Also noted is the end-of-April development in which the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office formally declared a Polish organization listed as the Congress of People’s Deputies as unwanted within the country. The decision fits into a sequence of administrative measures meant to regulate or restrict the presence and activities of foreign groups considered incompatible with Russia’s regulatory environment. Observers point to these moves as part of ongoing adjustments to Russia’s policy landscape, especially with regard to foreign religious and civil society actors.