Zimin Foundation recognized in Russia an “unwanted” organization

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia recognized the “undesirable” international non -profit organization Zimin Foundation.

The prosecutor’s office says that “the Fund provides financial and informational assistance to persons and organizations involved in extremist activities and terrorism, as well as foreign agents,” and since February this year has launched a “support program for Russian -speaking projects that have been left without American funding”. As a result, the Fund allocated 30 subsidies to help the projects of journalists and scientists "hostile to Russia."

• Zimin Foundation is a charitable organization founded by entrepreneur Dmitry Zimin and his son Boris "with the aim of promoting science and education for the benefit of mankind." The fund sponsor the initiatives such as the Enlightener Award (for the best popular science book in Russian), educational programs for youth and refugees from Ukraine, and also acts as a co-founder of the journalistic prize "Redaclelium".

Zimin Foundation will continue to work, but asks to take into account the risks

The fund commented on the decision of the Prosecutor General on recognition of the organization "undesirable". The decision did not enter into force until the Zimin Foundation was included in the official list of the Ministry of Justice, but the fund appealed to the partners in Russia in advance with an appeal to think about its safety:

“If you or your employees are in Russia or often visit Russia, we strongly ask you to weigh all the risks. [...] We will make any of your solutions regarding further cooperation. If you decide to continue work with us in new circumstances, we are ready to discuss the details - we have a team of professional lawyers who will help you understand all the intricacies of this law, ”the appeal says.

The organization emphasizes that it will continue to work - for foreign projects that cooperate with the fund, does not pose a new hazard status. In conclusion, Zimin Foundation recalled that the Enlightener Award, the editorial award and the school of theoretical and molecular biology - “Independent Projects” that exist without the help of the Fund. The Organizing Committee of the Enlightener Award also issued an urgent statement of termination of cooperation.