The Prosecutor General's Office recognized the Latvian «Association for the Development of Russian Civil Society and Support of Russian Emigrants» as an «undesirable organization», the press service of the department reported.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the association calls for anti-government protests, discredits Russian authorities, justifies the commission of terrorist acts, and publishes «extremist content materials».
The «Association for the Development of Russian Civil Society and Support of Russian Emigrants» was registered in Latvia in 2018. The organization aims to establish dialogue between Russians and Latvians. The association cooperates with the «Free Russia Forum», which was recognized as an «undesirable» organization in February 2023.
The register of «undesirable» organizations has been maintained in Russia since 2015. Foreign or international organizations can be recognized as «undesirable» if, in the opinion of the authorities, they pose a «threat to the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the country's defense capability, or state security». 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 from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles. In case of repeated violation within a year after the first fine for participation in the activities of an «undesirable» organization, criminal liability ensues, ranging from fines of 300 to 500 thousand rubles to imprisonment from one year to four years. This also applies to participation in activities outside of Russia.