Russia Designates Opposition Delegation at PACE as ‘Undesirable’

Oct. 30, 2026 Members of the Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces. Vasily Krestyaninov / SOTA Russia’s Justice Ministry has added the Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to its list of “undesirable” organizations, a move that renders affiliation with the anti-war group illegal. The delegation of Russian exiles was set up in January after years of lobbying efforts by leading opposition figures like former businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Several members of the anti-war group, including dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza and Pussy Riot co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova, already face criminal prosecution in Russia. Under Russian law, individuals affiliated with an “undesirable” entity can face up to four years in prison. Organizing the work of an “undesirable” group carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison. Neither the Prosecutor General’s Office, which ruled to designate the Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces as “undesirable” on Oct. 21, nor the Justice Ministry, which approved the designation on Thursday, have officially commented on the decision. Besides the PACE delegation, the Justice Ministry blacklisted another 11 foreign entities on Thursday, including Vidim Books, a publishing house founded in Slovakia in 2023 to print books that are censored or banned inside Russia. Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe and PACE in March 2022, shortly after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It had been a member for 26 years. Introduced in 2015, Russia’s “undesirable” designation has been used to hinder the work of independent media outlets, civil society groups and the political opposition. Hundreds of entities have since been added to the registry, including The Moscow Times. Read more about: Undesirable , Opposition , Justice Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. 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. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Interior Ministry Issues Arrest Warrant for Meduza Editor-in-Chief The specific charges against journalist Ivan Kolpakov remain unknown, though he was previously fined for being affiliated with an “undesirable” organization... 1 Min read Russia Blacklists Human Rights Watch as ‘Undesirable’ The influential body said it was "not surprised" by the designation and vowed to continue its work remotely. 1 Min read Russia Designates Reporters Without Borders ‘Undesirable’ Organization Russia’s Justice Ministry did not immediately provide a reason for the move. 2 Min read Russian Police Search Homes of ‘Undesirable’ Opposition Politicians The former municipal deputies were named “founders and co-chairs” of an exiled association of anti-war local politicians, state media reported. 2 Min read