Arktika, a regional youth-oriented non-governmental organization, has been added to the list of foreign agents, according to a statement on the Russian Justice Ministry’s official website.
Arktika — which currently has more than 50 permanent members — was launched in 2012 in Russia's southern Siberian Altai region as an organization to help young people and teenagers cope with domestic mistreatment or conflicts with the law, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
According to an open letter published on the organization's website Thursday, Arktika has voluntarily agreed to be included in the foreign agents register.
Arktika has been consistently pressured to voluntarily accept the status, or face "compulsory inclusion" which entails a fine of up to 500,000 rubles ($7,800) — a fine that would lead to a difficult financial situation for the organization, Arktika's head Anatoly Lomakin wrote.
"We are not going to stop our work. On the contrary, we will make every effort to make at least some positive changes in young people's lives," Lomakin wrote, adding that Arktika will not cancel multiple sports and touristic events scheduled for this year.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.