The Russian president has enacted a new legal measure targeting foreign organizations labeled as undesirable within the Russian Federation. The approval tightens the rules governing the participation of individuals linked to such organizations in the process of creating or joining non-profit groups. The official text detailing the changes is available on the government portal that publishes legal acts.
As part of the update, individuals listed as connected to international non-governmental organizations deemed unsuitable for activity in Russia will be restricted from founding or taking part in non-profit organizations. The policy narrows the pool of eligible founders and board members, effectively limiting the ability of some foreign-linked actors to influence civil society structures on Russian soil.
Additional provisions within the law give governing bodies the authority to remove founders from existing non-profit organizations. This provision adds an enforcement mechanism aimed at ensuring that participants with ties to prohibited groups cannot maintain leadership or influential roles within Russian civil society institutions.
There has also been mention of the Wikimedia.ru project, the Russian-language edition of a prominent free knowledge platform, with statements indicating a potential shutdown. The director of the non-profit organization behind the project indicated that discussions about the future of the service were proceeding, underscoring the broader climate of regulatory pressure affecting online information resources in the country. The remarks were shared with media outlets concerned with digital information availability and civil society in Russia.
Earlier, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation expanded the list of organizations considered undesirable by adding two more entities. The addition reflects ongoing efforts by authorities to streamline oversight of international groups operating within Russia and to define the boundaries of permissible civic participation for individuals associated with those entities.