What happened
On 4 June 2026, OVD-Info was added to Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service register of “terrorists and extremists”. According to the lists, the authorities considered OVD-Info a structural subdivision of the now non-existent “International Public Movement ‘Memorial’”—which the Supreme Court declared an “extremist” organisation and banned on 9 April 2026.
This is the most severe label the state deploys against those it considers its political opponents. With this decision, the Russian authorities are attempting to ban not only us, but the very idea of defending human rights, supporting people facing political persecution, and standing up for one another.
This is not the first time for us. Like other human rights organisations, we have gone through many bans, labels, and restrictions on our work. But clearly, the foreign agents laws, mass website blocking, the de facto introduction of wartime censorship, and the constant tightening of legislation are not working—people continue to speak out against the war, defend their rights, values and freedoms, and support those who defend them.
That is why the authorities are now turning to even “heavier” designations: the list of “terrorists and extremists” is expanding rapidly, while the number of treason cases continues to grow. These are all signs of a state that is powerless in its struggle against its own citizens. Any attempt to stop this is futile—they cannot take away the good in us that drives us to help, defend and fight, no matter what.
I still want to support you! What should I do?
Financial support for OVD-Info is now also prohibited under Russian law. We therefore cannot fail to warn our supporters in Russia about the risks this creates for them. Under Russian law, financing an “extremist” organisation carries up to eight years in a penal colony; recruiting others to donate or participate carries four to eight years; and publicly calling on others to support us—through posts, reposts, or comments—carries up to five years’ imprisonment.
For those outside Russia with no plans to travel there, donations via foreign bank cards or cryptocurrency are considered relatively safe: the only known way such transfers have been detected is through physical inspection of your devices at the border. If you have supported us and plan to visit Russia, we strongly recommend clearing your phone, email, and social media of any mentions of OVD-Info. The FAQ below covers the key safety questions in detail.
If, despite all our warnings, you are prepared to stay with us and take the necessary precautions when crossing borders—support OVD-Info. We have no intention of stopping our work—but we will no longer be able to work as we did before. In a single day we lost many of those we protect, our supporters, and our team members. But we will not give up, and we will continue to look for safe ways to fight political repression. And we need, now more than ever, the help of everyone who is ready to continue this fight alongside us.