18-04-2024 11:36 PM Jerusalem Timing

Russia Bans US-funded Foundation as ’Undesirable’

Russia Bans US-funded Foundation as ’Undesirable’

Russian prosecutors on Friday declared a US government-funded foundation an "undesirable" organization, the fourth entity to be banned under a controversial law targeting foreign groups accused of political meddling in the country

Russia: Soros foundationRussian prosecutors on Friday declared a US government-funded foundation an "undesirable" organization, the fourth entity to be banned under a controversial law targeting foreign groups accused of political meddling in the country.

The US Russia Foundation for Economic Advancement and the Rule of Law (USRF), which promotes private sector development and institution building in Russia will be banned as its activities "present a threat to the foundations of Russia's constitutional system and state security," Russia's Prosecutor General said in a statement.

The Prosecutor "has decided to declare as undesirable" its activities and banned its president, US citizen Mark Pomar, from entering Russia until 2025, the statement added.

The decision now needs to be rubber-stamped by the justice ministry, which keeps a register of "undesirable" groups.

Prosecutors accused USRF - which has had an office in Russia since 2009 - of financing local NGOs that "participate in political processes", branded "foreign agents" by the Russian justice ministry.

Russia issued a law in 2012 allowing authorities to brand groups engaging in broadly-defined "political activity" and that receive funding from abroad as "foreign agents".

More than 100 groups, ranging from some of Russia's leading rights groups to small regional organizations, have received the tag.