The German NGO Journalists in Need Network ('Network of Journalists in Distress') and the Czech software manufacturer Compelson were added to the Ministry of Justice's registry of 'undesirable' organizations. According to the document records, the Prosecutor General's Office recognized Journalists in Need Network as 'undesirable' on December 25 last year, and Compelson on January 9 of the current year.
The NGO 'Network of Journalists in Distress' is based in Berlin and emerged shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. According to the organization's website, it supports media workers who have emigrated to Germany and also 'develops cross-border investigative journalism' by organizing trainings, schools, and other educational events for journalists. Among its partners and sponsors listed on the website are the European Union, 'Reporters Without Borders', the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Baltic Centre for Media Excellence, the Prague Civil Society Centre, and the German Foreign Ministry. The reasons for including the NGO in the registry of 'undesirable' organizations have not been officially reported.
The Czech company Compelson was accused of providing the Ukrainian army with licenses for programs and technical means that can access 'information contained in mobile phones and smartwatches, social media accounts, and 'cloud' data storage'. The most well-known product of Compelson is MobilEdit, used for extracting data from smartphones. In 2022, the program's developers announced technological assistance to the Ukrainian military 'to obtain vital intelligence from enemy combatants' devices and conduct effective military operations'.
The registry of 'undesirable' organizations has been maintained in Russia since 2015. Foreign or international organizations that, in the opinion of the authorities, pose a 'threat to the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the country's defense capability, or state security' can be recognized as 'undesirable'. Such organizations are prohibited from operating in the country.
Participation in the activities of an 'undesirable organization' is punishable by administrative liability in the form of a fine ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles. In the case of a repeated violation within a year after the first fine for participating in the activities of an 'undesirable' organization, criminal liability ensues, starting with fines from 300,000 to 500,000 rubles to imprisonment from one year to four years. This also applies to participation in activities outside of Russia.