Russia declared this Friday, May 19 “undesirable” the environmental protection NGO Greenpeace. This measure prohibits de facto its activities in the country, in full repression all over the place since the offensive of the Kremlin in Ukraine.
In a statement, the Russian General Prosecutor’s Office claimed that Greenpeace International, headquartered in the Netherlands, represents a ” threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and to the security ” of Russia and sought to ” overthrow power unconstitutionally “. The prosecution also accuses Greenpeace of encouraging ” interference in the internal affairs of Russia, to seek to undermine its economic foundations » and to finance Russian organizations qualified by the authorities of” foreign agents ».
Greenpeace is also accused of leading “ regularly ” of the ” information campaigns ” For ” prevent the realization of profitable infrastructure and energy projects for Russia. The prosecution also accused Greenpeace of carrying out ” anti-russian propaganda » and to call « to strengthen the sanctions against Russia since the start of the military campaign in Ukraine.
In Russia, according to the specialized NGO OVD-Info, organizations classified as “undesirable” are prohibited from opening structures, carrying out projects there and disseminating information there. This qualification ealso exposes Greenpeace to possible legal action.
A decision described as “absurd” by the NGO
” The liquidation of Greenpeace in Russia is an absurd, irresponsible and destructive measure that has nothing to do with protecting the interests of the country “Reacted the NGO on its website in Russian. According to the NGO, this decision is ” due precisely to the fact that we are trying to prevent the implementation of projects that destroy nature, and in many cases successfully “.
The Russian branch of Greenpeace, opened in 1992, carries out operations in the country to raise awareness of climate change, to fight against forest fires, against pollution, and to preserve endangered animal species. The NGO cites a long list of projects it has carried out, including some concerning Lake Baikal, the largest and deepest in the world. ” Every year, our employees and volunteers have saved forests and peatlands from fires »Greenpeace added.
Since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine, the Russian authorities have greatly accelerated the repression of critical voices. Far from being confined to the political opposition, this repression affects all areas, such as cultural circles and environmental organizations. In March, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) had been classified in Russia “ foreign agent “, an infamous label that greatly complicates its activities in the country.
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(With AFP)