Russia‘s Supreme Court has declared the U.S. legal entity of Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) — Anti-Corruption Foundation International, Inc. — a ‘terrorist organization,’ effectively banning its operations within Russia. The court’s decision followed a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The proceedings, conducted behind closed doors, signify a further escalation of pressure by Russian authorities on organizations linked to Alexei Navalny.
The Judge
The lawsuit seeking to ban FBK’s U.S. legal entity was filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation.
Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefedov presided over the case. Nefedov is notable for his involvement in other high-profile cases, having previously declared the ‘international LGBT movement’ (which is non-existent) and the ‘international satanism movement’ as extremist in Russia. He had also previously rejected three lawsuits filed by Alexei Navalny against the Russian Ministry of Justice.
Statement from Navalny’s Team
Alexei Navalny’s team promptly commented on the Supreme Court’s decision, condemning it as politically motivated.
In a published statement, the team asserted that the ruling is ‘a political tactic by Russian authorities: to declare anyone an enemy of the state who hinders their theft and endless war.’
The team emphatically rejected the accusations, asserting that the true ‘terrorists‘ are the current authorities. ‘We are not terrorists, and everyone understands this… The terrorists are Vladimir Putin and his cronies — people who unleashed war, kill civilians and political opponents, and imprison people,’ the statement read.
The court’s decision, though technically targeting a U.S. legal entity, is therefore seen as a direct continuation of the Russian authorities’ policy aimed at the complete eradication of any organizations and individuals associated with Alexei Navalny and his anti-corruption work.