Open Press is recognized as undesirable in Russia

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the activities of 68 organizations have become undesirable

The Prosecutor General of Russia recognized the work of the French organization Open Press "undesirable" in Russia.

"It has been established that its activity poses a threat to the basics of the constitutional system and safety of the Russian Federation," the department said.

The company Open Press, registered in France, was founded in 2018 by the former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The French register of companies states that on October 11, Khodorkovsky, as the only shareholder, began the liquidation process of Open Press.

Other media projects of Khodorkovsky - “Open Media” and “MBH Media” - in 2021 also closed due to blocks on the initiative of the Russian Prosecutor General and the introduction of their employees to the register of “media -foreign agents”. Mikhail Khodorkovsky himself was also recognized as a foreign agent in Russia.

• The recognition of the organization is undesirable means that any of its activities in Russia is prohibited, and cooperation with it can lead to initiation of a criminal case and punishment in the form of imprisonment.
• Open Press will become the 68th organization in the list of "undesirable" in Russia.
• The law on unwanted organizations in Russia was adopted in 2015. Russian and foreign human rights activists have repeatedly made his criticism.