Russia's Prosecutor General office declared The Moscow Times an "undesirable organisation" within Russian borders, banning its operations in the country and imposing potential criminal charges on individuals associated with it.
This decision escalates existing measures against independent media following Russia's military actions in Ukraine since February 2022.
The declaration states that The Moscow Times is designed to undermine Russian Federation leadership decisions both domestically and internationally.
Since the outbreak of hostilities with Ukraine, The Moscow Times relocated its operations from Moscow to Amsterdam.
An "undesirable organisation" status in Russia results in cessation of activities by such entities within the country and can subject Russian nationals involved with these organisations to prosecution, including possible imprisonment for specific actions.
Founder Derk Sauer emphasized their commitment to independent journalism despite the designation during a social media post on X (formerly Twitter).
Mediazona has reported instances of Russians facing fines for sharing content from "undesirable organisations".
The paper, historically published in English and Russian in Moscow, had also served as an incubator for journalists now working as prominent foreign correspondents.
A case mentioned involved US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was detained on espionage allegations he and his employer have denied. He worked for The Moscow Times at the beginning of his career in Russia.
The label "undesirable organisation" has been utilised by Russian authorities to target media outlets and NGOs perceived as funding opposition against the Kremlin, prompting criticism that it is a tool to suppress dissent.
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