Russia Labels Reporters Without Borders as a Threat to National Security

Authorities in Moscow have labeled Reporters Without Borders as an «undesirable» organization, according to reports from independent media in Russia on Thursday, although no explanation was provided for this designation.

Known by its French acronym RSF, this Paris-based organization is dedicated to monitoring press freedom and advocating for the safety of journalists as well as unrestricted access to information on a global scale.

The Russian Ministry of Justice included RSF on its «undesirable» list on June 27, but the designation was only published on the ministry’s website recently, on Thursday.

This classification prohibits RSF from operating within Russia. Under Russian law, anyone associated with these «undesirable» organizations can face sentences of up to four years in prison, while leaders of such organizations could face up to six years.

«By branding RSF — an NGO that champions journalism — as an undesirable entity, the Kremlin is sending a clear message. They are intensifying their efforts to silence all dissenting voices that challenge their censorship and propaganda. However, we will not be silenced. We will persist in our investigations and condemn their campaign against news and information, and we will strive to ensure that every Russian accountable for crimes against journalists, both in Russia and Ukraine, is brought to justice,» said Thibaut Bruttin, the director general of RSF, in a statement.

«Being included in this list of approximately 250 organizations can be seen as an honor for RSF. The lack of provided justification indicates that this decision acknowledges RSF’s extensive work, including efforts to exfiltrate Russian journalists and the Svoboda satellite broadcasts,» Bruttin added.

Russia enacted its «undesirable» law in 2015, utilizing it to suppress independent media, opposition factions, and foreign groups. Currently, hundreds of organizations are blacklisted, including The Moscow Times, which was added to the list last summer.