Russia has added the civic platform Nordic Ukraine Forum to its list of so-called undesirable organizations on Dec. 29.
Under Russian law, this status effectively bans any activity of the organization on Russian territory. The Kremlin uses this designation against foreign and international groups it views as a threat to Russia’s “constitutional order, defense capabilities, or security.”
“In practice, this law is a political tool used to criminalize solidarity with Ukraine and other democratic causes,” the forum added.
Once an organization is labeled “undesirable,” any interaction with it within Russia — including sharing its content or providing financial support — can expose Russian citizens to administrative or even criminal penalties.
“Thus we wear this label with pride. For us, it is a clear evidence that our work matters — that our efforts to support Ukraine, defend democracy, and expose the crimes of russia are having real impact and thus provoke a response from the Kremlin,” the forum said.
Nordic Ukraine Forum said that if standing up for freedom, international law, and human dignity made them “undesirable” in Russia, then they were firmly on the right side of history.
“We are proud to stand alongside many other organizations that have received this designation. […] We will continue our work to support Ukraine and to help it combat the russian genocidal empire,” the Nordic Ukraine Forum said.
Russia previously labeled the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) an undesirable organization in 2019.