- Moscow: Adenauer Foundation is an unwanted organization
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, affiliated with the CDU, has been declared an unwanted organization in Russia, effectively amounting to a ban. While the foundation aims to support European unity, it is said to have an "openly provocative character" that seeks to deteriorate relations between Russia and Western countries, according to the General Prosecutor's Office in Moscow.
The organization is accused of distributing materials that discredit Russia's leadership, politics, and legal institutions, and of representing the position of hostile states regarding Moscow's actions in Ukraine. Furthermore, it is claimed that the foundation's information policy aims to promote Russia's political and economic isolation on the global stage and to strengthen resistance in the regions affected by the military special operation, as the Kremlin officially calls the war.
Critics often point out that Russia's law on unwanted organizations lacks legal foundations, as it is unclear which actions lead to being classified as unwanted. Since the start of the war, Russia has declared numerous institutions, including foundations and the highly respected German Historical Institute, to be unwanted organizations. However, most German non-governmental organizations have already closed their offices in the country due to the Russian invasion.
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, being declared an unwanted organization in Russia, has faced a significant setback within The Foundation's operations in the country. Despite its mission to foster European unity, the Russian authorities view its activities as a threat to their relations with Western countries.
