The Prosecutor General's Office recognized Open Russia as an undesirable organization

The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation recognized Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Open Russia and the Institute of Modern Russia, which is headed by his son Pavel, as an “undesirable organization.” Medusa reports this with reference to the department.

“Their activities are aimed at inspiring protests and destabilizing the internal political situation, which poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation and the security of the state,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said in a press release.

Organizations, according to the department, also “implement special programs and projects in order to discredit the elections taking place in Russia” and “recognize their results as illegitimate.”

The report mentioned two organizations called Open Russia, including a social networking movement; both organizations are registered in the UK. The Pavel Khodorkovsky Institute of Modern Russia is registered in the USA.

In turn, the Open Russia movement announced that it does not consider itself an “undesirable organization,” contrary to the decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office. A statement on the movement's website said that the organization "is purely Russian" and cannot be considered "undesirable."

Maria Baronova, coordinator of the Open Russia human rights project, explained to Meduza that according to Russian laws, the movement does not require registration of a legal entity, which means it cannot be considered “undesirable” or closed. She also stated that the movement does not currently receive foreign funding.

“I’m proud of being included in the sanctions list” Touched them to the quick since 04/29/17 However, this does not concern the Open Russia Movement - it is Russian. https://t.co/qN1CFYuyvF

— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (@mich261213) April 26, 2017

The Prosecutor General's Office may recognize as “undesirable” a foreign or international non-governmental organization whose activities pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation, the country’s defense capability or state security.

Cooperation with “undesirable organizations,” according to Russian law, involves criminal penalties up to imprisonment. So far, there have been seven organizations on the “undesirable” list, including Open Society and George Soros’s Assistance Foundation.