On June 5, 2025, Russia’s prosecutor general announced the designation of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES)—a U.S.-based scholarly society focused on studying the former Soviet countries, Central Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe—as an “undesirable organization.”
Passed in May 2015, the “undesirable organization” law (Article 20.33 of Russia’s Code of Administrative Offenses) provides Russia’s Prosecutor General and the Ministry of Justice with the power to register foreign or international institutions as “undesirable” if they present a “threat to the defense capability or security of the state, to the public order or health, and the foundations of the constitutional order.” Entities registered in the list are banned from operating in Russia. First-time violations are typically punished by a fine; the second offense carries up to four years in prison.
Russian authorities did not comment on the reasons for labeling ASEEES “undesirable.” However, the Russian government often gives the designation to organizations with links to the United States and Europe. ASEEES became the 230th group to receive such designation since 2015 and the 35th this year. Previously, Russian authorities have banned activities of human rights, feminist, LGBTQ+, anti-war, and academic institutions, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Central European University (see report), the Moscow-based Free University (see report), and Bard College (see report). While the law has been primarily used against political opposition, it has also been applied to independent media, election watchdogs, universities, and academic associations.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about apparent retaliation against an independent research association in response to its political or ideological affiliations. State authorities have a responsibility not to interfere with the peaceful exercise of the rights to academic freedom and freedom of association, so long as those activities are undertaken peacefully and responsibly. Actions aimed at limiting research and cooperation harm academic freedom and undermine society generally.
Sources:
https://aseees.org/news/aseees-response-to-designation-as-an-undesirable-organization-by-the-russian-government/
https://minjust.gov.ru/ru/documents/7756/
https://ovd.info/express-news/2025/06/05/vladelca-internet-radio-ekho-i-amerikanskoe-nauchnoe-obschestvo-priznali
https://apnews.com/article/russia-moscow-election-golos-melkonyants-trial-crackdown-8d00777f066ebcc58bb54452e23c828b
https://www.rferl.org/a/radio-liberty-undesirable-designation-russia-explainer/32828027.html
https://en.zona.media/article/2025/01/10/undesirables
https://iims.hse.ru/csid/news/229332233.html