Now doctors too

The independent trade union of medical workers "Alliance of Doctors" of the Ministry of Justice entered into the register of foreign agents

According to the Ministry of Justice, the Alliance of Doctors * has repeatedly received foreign funding, while engaging in political activities. Specific facts are not given in the message of the department, which was distributed by the agencies.

Union spokeswoman Alexandra Zakharova said the organization has not yet received notification. “There is no information on the website of the Ministry of Justice. Don't repeat unverified news," she added on Twitter.

The Alliance of Doctors*, as stated on its website, defends the rights of medical workers across the country: “Together we fight for fair wages, decent working conditions, high allowances and paid overtime for all doctors in Russia.”

During the coronavirus epidemic, union employees raised money for personal protective equipment for doctors. They delivered them to various medical institutions in different regions of Russia, often encountering opposition from the police , the Investigative Committee and officials .

The team of the Moscow municipal deputy Konstantin Yankauskas (he himself is under house arrest) notes on Twitter that the Alliance of Doctors *, together with the Action trade union, actively participated in protecting the only maternity hospital No. 10 in Zyuzino, which was closed by the mayor’s office: City Hall, which closed the maternity hospital, has not been punished so far. They punish the trade union that saved.” They also write that the former head of the Moscow health department, Georgy Golukhov, who “started the sabotage optimization of medicine,” had a residence permit in Switzerland. But he was not recognized as a foreign agent.

The head of the trade union, Anastasia Vasilyeva, is being held on a “sanitary case” because of a rally in support of Alexei Navalny on January 23. She is accused of inciting to violate sanitary and epidemiological standards at protests. Lyubov Sobol, Oleg Navalny, coordinator of Navalny's headquarters in Moscow Oleg Stepanov, Navalny's press secretary Kira Yarmysh, politician Nikolai Lyaskin, Pussy Riot member Maria Alekhina and municipal deputies Dmitry Baranovsky and Lucy Stein are also involved in this case.

Since March 1, the legislation on foreign agents has been tightened in Russia. Violations are punishable by heavy fines and even jail time. In this regard, human rights activist Lev Ponomarev** announced the dissolution of the public organization "For Human Rights"***. Artist Darya Apakhonchich** and journalist Denis Kamalyagin**, included in the list of media-foreign agents, are trying to challenge the assignment of this status in court.

*"Alliance of Doctors" - the organization is included in the list of NGOs that perform the function of a foreign agent.

**Lev Ponomarev, Daria Apakhonchich, Denis Kamalyagin are included in the list of media outlets acting as foreign agents.

*** "For Human Rights" - the movement is included in the list of NGOs that perform the function of a foreign agent. Eliminated in 2019. The public organization of the same name was dissolved on March 1, 2021.