Russia declares Human Rights Watch “undesirable” organisation

Russia’s Justice Ministry on November 28 added the international nonprofit Human Rights Watch (HRW) to its list of “undesirable” organisations, effectively banning the US-based rights group from operating in the country.

The designation means that any individual found to be affiliated with HRW inside Russia could face up to four years in prison, while leaders of the organisation could be sentenced to as many as six years, Caliber.Az reports per The Moscow Times. 

HRW was previously among several international NGOs whose offices were closed by Russian authorities in the early months following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with officials citing alleged legal violations.

By Sabina Mammadli