Czech NGO 'People in Need' lands on Russia's 'undesirable' list

People in Need banned by Russia’s Justice Ministry

People in Need, a Czech NGO, has been declared ‘undesirable’ by Russian authorities. The move, effectively bans the humanitarian rights group from operating in Russia.

The ministry did not specify what the Czech disaster relief, advocacy, and human rights group did to violate the “fundamental human rights and freedoms, the rights and freedoms of Russian Federation citizens.”

Founded in 1992, People In Need is the 19th organization to be blacklisted since Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the “undesirable” law in 2015.

The law has been criticized by human rights watchdogs who have said it would “bolster an ongoing draconian crackdown which is squeezing the life out of civil society” in Russia.

It is not clear how the law’s provisions will be applied to the Czech nonprofit.

According to the group’s website, People In Need strives to “inspire a largeness of spirit in Czech society by helping others in need, and to promote democratic freedom for all.”

Read the entire article at RFERL