Russia Moves to Classify WWF as a Foreign Agent, Justice Minister Claims Legal Grounds
The Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation, Konstantin Chuichenko, described the decision to label the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as a foreign agent within Russia as lawful and warranted. He conveyed this stance in an interview with TASS, outlining the ministry’s intent to present all charges against the organization in court. He argued that the designation serves to illuminate the fund’s activities and their compliance with Russian law.
Chuichenko further stated that letters of defense for the WWF, signed by various groups and individuals, mirror the organization’s active public relations campaigns. He asserted that in recent years the fund has prioritized self-promotion over concrete conservation work on the ground, calling into question the tangible outcomes of its programs inside Russia.
According to the minister, the WWF has repeatedly spotlighted environmental issues in a manner that appears more performative than action-driven. He claimed that the organization has a pattern of leveraging its status for fundraising drives presented as charitable efforts. The minister emphasized that the Russian Federation will respond to these developments in a manner consistent with the law, ensuring that all procedures are conducted transparently and with due process.
On March 10, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation opened a case listing the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) as a foreign agent within the country. This decision followed a request from the Russian Ecological Society (REO) urging closer scrutiny of Greenpeace and WWF to confirm their status. Russian environmentalists argued in their letter that these organizations contribute to a negative public opinion regarding the actions of the Russian government and domestic companies in the field of nature protection. In response, supporters of the WWF have argued that the designation could stifle legitimate conservation work and curb civil society activity in Russia. The ministry has stressed that the move is part of a legal framework designed to increase accountability for organizations operating in the country and to prevent potential circumvention of national regulations. All parties have been informed that the case will proceed through the appropriate judicial channels, with evidence reviewed and challenged in court as required by Russian law. The broader context reflects ongoing debates inside Russia about how international actors are treated in the realm of environmental policy and public interest advocacy. In the weeks ahead, observers will be watching how these proceedings unfold and what they might mean for cross-border conservation efforts and NGO activity in Russia.