The Russian branch of Greenpeace will close after its activities deemed “undesirable”

CNN
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The Russian branch of Greenpeace International was forced to shut down after officials in the country said the organization’s activities were “undesirable”.

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office said in a Telegram statement on Friday that it had decided to “recognize the activities of Greenpeace as undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation”, and asserted that the activities of Greenpeace International “represent a threat to the fundamental constitutional order and security of the Russian Federation.”

Greenpeace International and its branch in Russia condemned the decision in two statements released on Friday.

“We express our categorical disagreement with the decision of the Attorney General’s office. This decision makes it illegal to continue any Greenpeace activity in Russia. Therefore, the Russian branch of Greenpeace will be forced to close,” the Greenpeace Russia statement read.

Greenpeace International also criticized the decision, saying that “this erroneous decision effectively indicates that it is ‘undesirable’ to protect nature in Russia”.

“It is clear that Greenpeace International – and subsequently Greenpeace Russia – has been branded undesirable because we are not allowing disastrous plans threatening nature to be carried out,” the Greenpeace International statement added.

Dozens of organizations have been classified as “undesirable” by Russian authorities since 2015, according to Reuters, a designation that effectively prevents them from operating.