Russia has banned the Clooney Foundation for Justice from operating in the country, accusing it and its founders, George Clooney and Amal Clooney, of attempting to discredit Russia through their human rights investigations.
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office declared the foundation’s activities undesirable, stating it engages in efforts to undermine Russia on a “Hollywood scale.”
Founded in 2016 by the Clooneys, the foundation investigates war crimes in Ukraine, monitors trials targeting women and journalists, and combats global authoritarianism.
Russia’s Prosecutor General criticized the foundation for supporting exiled individuals and banned groups, and for promoting initiatives that call for the prosecution of Russian leaders.
The ban is part of a broader Russian crackdown on foreign organizations deemed threats to state security, which has been criticized for its broad and vague criteria.
Organizations labeled “undesirable” face significant legal penalties, and Russian citizens who assist them may face imprisonment.
