New Delhi: Russia has classified the Moscow Times as an “undesirable organization,” effectively banning its operations within the country. This move comes amid heightened tensions following Russia’s military action in Ukraine in February 2022.
The decision, announced by the office of Russia’s prosecutor general, accuses The Moscow Times, a foreign non-governmental organization (NGO), of “discrediting the decisions of the leadership of the Russian Federation in both foreign and domestic policy.”
Founded in the early 1990s and known for its reporting in both English and Russian, The Moscow Times relocated its operations to Amsterdam in 2022. Despite the move, the Russian government has taken this hardline stance.
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The “undesirable” designation carries significant weight. It forces organizations to cease all activities inside Russia. Additionally, any Russian citizen who works for, funds, or collaborates with the Moscow Times now faces potential legal repercussions, including prison sentences of up to five years for certain activities.
Derk Sauer, the founder of The Moscow Times, responded defiantly in an online post, stating, “We will continue with our work as usual: independent journalism. That’s a crime in Putin’s Russia.”
This incident highlights the increasingly restricted media landscape in Russia. The move against The Moscow Times follows a broader pattern of the Russian government targeting independent media outlets critical of its actions.
