For Ukraine, for their freedom and ours! learned from a statement by the Prosecutor General of Russia, published on March 17 on his office's website, that it had been classified as "an undesirable organization" in Russia, joining many other Russian and international organizations.

The leaders and members of our young association, founded in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine—including many academics—will therefore be unable to travel to Russia, where they had no intention whatsoever of endorsing Vladimir Putin's totalitarian regime. They nevertheless see this as an unintentional acknowledgment of their commitment.

" This designation of 'undesirable' from a terrorist and dictatorial state honors us because we see it as a sign of the importance of the work done in opposition to the atrocious war waged by the Kremlin in Ukraine and in support of the defense of rights and freedoms in Russia." “ We proudly accept the accusations of fighting against Moscow’s aggression and supporting Ukraine and Russian opposition figures, ” emphasizes its President, Sylvie Rollet. “ We fully intend to continue these actions. ”

The Russian authorities cite as reasons for their decision cooperation with Russia-Freedoms and the Anti-War Committee of Russia, already considered undesirable in 2024, as well as with pro-Ukrainian associations and our campaigns for the application of sanctions against Russia.

We are indeed proud to have investigated and raised the alarm through two cases filed with the ICC regarding the planned deportation and Russification of Ukrainian children; to have denounced the systematic practice of sexual crimes by the occupier; to have called for a boycott of Russian athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics; to have demanded increased military aid to Ukraine and the closure of its airspace to Moscow air attacks; to have demonstrated the necessity and possibility of confiscating Russian public assets; and to have provided Ukrainians with electric generators so that they could withstand the bombing of civilian energy facilities.

According to Russian law, "undesirable organizations" represent a "threat to Russia." Prosecutions against individuals who cooperate with or contribute to their funding in Russia can be administrative, punishable by fines, or criminal, punishable by up to five years in prison. Isn't this an admission of weakness from a dictatorial regime that fears any form of dissent and tries to stifle it?

But it is also an unacceptable interference in French public life, since "For Ukraine for their freedom and ours!" and "Russia-Liberties" are associations under the 1901 Law, born and officially registered in Paris.