MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, July 28 (WNM) - Russia said it was preparing to ban the Atlantic Council, a think-tank formerly run by the U.S. ambassador to Moscow, which Russia's prosecutor general described as a security threat.
“Based on the materials that the Prosecutor General’s Office received on July 25, a decision was made to recognize the activity of foreign non-governmental organization Atlantic Council (US) as undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation. It was found that the activity of the specified organization poses a threat to the basics of the constitutional order and the security of the Russian Federation,” the report says.
The Prosecutor General’s Office added that information on the taken decision was sent to the Russian Justice Ministry that will have to include the Atlantic Council to the list of foreign and international non-governmental organizations the activity of which is recognized as undesirable in Russia.
The Atlantic Council became the 17th organization recognized as undesirable in Russia.
The prosecutor gave no further details of the reasons for the ban.
The move follows steps taken by Moscow against several other foreign non-government organisations since Russia's relations with the West deteriorated over the Ukrainian crisis in 2014 and financial sanctions that followed.
The General Prosecutor's Office said it had handed over its ruling to the Russian ministry of justice.
Fred Kempe, president of the Atlantic Council, said in a statement sent by email to The World News Monitor:
"We have seen reports that the Russian Prosecutor General added the Atlantic Council to its list of “undesirable organizations,” which would mean that our activities had been deemed a threat to the national security of Russia. We have not been informed either formally or informally of the decision by the Russian authorities.
We are proud of the Council’s long tradition of work on Russia, and are disappointed that Russian authorities have announced this step. We are looking into the implications of this decision, which a number of our peer organizations have faced in recent years.
The Atlantic Council stands by its body of work on Russia and we will continue to advance our mission of working together with friends and allies to solve global challenges, in ways consistent with our deepest values. We will continue to be an unwavering voice for a better Russia and the future of its citizens.
dition of work with Russians and on Russia, and are disappointed that Russian authorities have announced this step," the Atlantic Council said in a statement sent by email to Reuters, adding that it had not been informed of the decision by the authorities."
U.S. ambassador Jon Huntsman served as chairman of the think tank from 2014 until 2017, when he was appointed to his diplomatic post by President Donald Trump.