The “Andrei Sakharov Institute” and the movement “Peace. Progress. Human Rights” have been declared “undesirable.”

The Ministry of Justice has added the “Andrei Sakharov Institute” (L’Institut Sakharov) and the civil network movement “Peace. Progress. Human Rights” to the list of “undesirable organisations,” according to an update on the department’s website.

The “Andrei Sakharov Institute” was founded in Paris by the human rights defender Lev Ponomaryov. The organisation defines its main goals as:

• supporting Russian civil society under repression;
• assisting political refugees and deserters from Russia;
• creating a platform for expert discussion on ending the war in Ukraine and developing democracy in Russia.

The civil network movement “Peace. Progress. Human Rights” emerged after the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. It brings together human rights defenders, activists, politicians, journalists and other professionals who oppose the war and advocate for democratic change in Russia. The movement also bears Sakharov’s name. Some members of the initiative group of this movement are also part of the “Andrei Sakharov Institute” team.

In January 2023, the Prosecutor General’s Office declared the American non-governmental organisation “Andrei Sakharov Foundation” to be “undesirable.”