The Prosecutor General’s Office recognized the Institute for Statecraft as an undesirable organization

The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office recognized the British Institute for Statecraft as an “undesirable organization”. This is stated in a message on the department’s website.

The decision was made on the basis of an investigation, which showed that the institute conducts campaigns to discredit the state authorities and management of Russia, and also represents a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system, territorial integrity and security of the state, the Prosecutor General’s Office notes.

The department clarified that with the participation of the Institute of State Administration, “proofs” of Russia’s interference in the internal affairs of European states were fabricated and “Russophobic conferences” were organized.

The Institute for Statecraft was founded in 2009. It is headed by Christopher Donnelly, a former British intelligence officer and ex-advisor to the NATO Secretary General. Donnelly holds the post of adviser to the head of the Foreign Ministry of Lithuania, Gabrielus Landsbergis. In the State Duma of Russia, it was assumed that Donnell and his employees could be involved in the explosion on the bridge across the Kerch Strait in September of last year.

The Institute previously stated that it is engaged in updating state administration practices and is not dependent on political institutions. The organization has not yet commented on the decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

• The Law on Undesirable Organizations, according to which they are prohibited from operating on the territory of Russia, was signed by President Vladimir Putin in May 2015. Any non-governmental organization that, in the opinion of the Prosecutor General’s Office, represents a “threat to the security of the state and the foundations of the constitutional system” can be considered undesirable. The authorities have already included dozens of NGOs and NGOs among such organizations.
• Recognizing an organization in Russia as undesirable, among other things, means that persons cooperating with it may be brought to criminal responsibility. Several Russian citizens have been sentenced to real prison terms under the article on cooperation with such organizations.