Russian Authorities Classify Feminist Anti-War Resistance as ‘Undesirable,’ Drawing Criticism from Rights Groups

On April 25th, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation added the “Feminist Anti-War Resistance” movement to the list of foreign and international non-governmental organizations deemed “undesirable” within the country. This decision was reported by Meduza.

Established by Russian feminists the day after the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, the Feminist Antiwar Resistance (FAS) is an association that aims to shed light on grassroots anti-war initiatives and actions. Its main objective, as outlined by its members, is to overcome the information blockade and spread awareness about the war in Ukraine. However, activists participating in protests acknowledge the risks involved.

Following its inclusion in the “undesirable” list, representatives of the Feminist Anti-War Resistance movement have sought legal counsel. Previously, in December 2022, the Ministry of Justice designated the organization as a “foreign agent,” with one of its founders, Daria Serenko, also being identified as such in January 2023. Notably, Serenko was later placed on the wanted list by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, albeit with unclear reasons for suspicion as no prior criminal charges had been disclosed. Serenko is currently outside of Russia.