Free Russia Foundation
{{Short description|USA nonprofit organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| formation = 2014
| founder =
| type = NGO
| status = foundation
| purpose =
| headquarters =
| name = Free Russia Foundation
| native_name = Фонд «Свободная Россия»
| native_name_lang = russian
| leader_title = President of the foundation
| leader_name = Natalia Arno
| dissolved =
| abbreviation =
| website = {{URL|https://www.4freerussia.org/}}
}}
Free Russia Foundation ({{langx|ru|Фонд «Свободная Россия»|Fond «Svobodnaya Rossiya»}}) is a non-profit organization established in 2014 in Washington, D.C., by a group of Russian emigrants.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Свободная Россия. Чем занимается Free Russia Foundation, внесенный в список «экстремистских организаций» |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/07/26/svobodnaia-ekstremistskaia-rossiia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108010723/https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/07/26/svobodnaia-ekstremistskaia-rossiia |archive-date=2024-11-08 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Новая газета Европа |lang=ru}} The foundation supports civil society, opposition politicians and human rights advocates, democratic reforms, and human rights in Russia. It also facilitates the integration of Russian emigrants into the international community and conducts research and analysis of the political situation in Russia.
History
The foundation was established amid the political crisis in Russia, which intensified after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the suppression of domestic opposition. The founders include members of the Russian diaspora, political émigrés, and activists concerned about the decline of political freedoms and democratic institutions in Russia.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
The foundation’s main offices are located in Washington, D.C., and Brussels, with branches in Tallinn, Berlin, Warsaw, Kyiv, Lviv, Tbilisi, and Vilnius.
The foundation is funded through private donations, grants from international organizations, and charitable contributions, though the names of donors are not disclosed. Its annual budget is $2 million.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Русская служба The Moscow |date=2024-02-09 |title=США прекратили финансирование антипутинской фабрики троллей |url=https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2024/02/09/ssha-prekratili-finansirovanie-antiputinskoi-fabriki-trollei-a121251 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620215408/https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2024/02/09/ssha-prekratili-finansirovanie-antiputinskoi-fabriki-trollei-a121251 |archive-date=2024-06-20 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=The Moscow Times |lang=ru}}
= Key Personnel =
- David Kramer — Chair of the Board of Directors,{{Cite news |date=2019-06-28 |title=Russia Justice Ministry Classifies U.S.-Based Free Russia Foundation 'Undesirable' |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-justice-ministry-classifies-u-s--based-free-russia-foundation-undesirable-/30026460.html |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |lang=en}} former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and former president of Freedom House.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-10 |title=David J. Kramer → Free Russia Foundation |url=https://www.4freerussia.org/david-j-kramer/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Free Russia Foundation |lang=en}}
- Natalia Arno — President of the foundation (formerly with the International Republican Institute under U.S. Senator John McCain{{Cite web |date=2004-08-01 |title=«Обсуждая эльфов, многие забыли, что у нас вообще-то война идет». Президент «Свободной России» Наталия Арно — о «легионе эльфов» и политическом давлении на фонд |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/11/27/obsuzhdaia-elfov-mnogie-zabyli-chto-u-nas-voobshche-to-voina-idet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241103233121/https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/11/27/obsuzhdaia-elfov-mnogie-zabyli-chto-u-nas-voobshche-to-voina-idet |archive-date=2024-11-03 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Новая газета Европа}}).
- Vladimir Kara-Murza — Vice President of the Foundation.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-20 |title=Free Russia Foundation • Владимир Кара-Мурза |url=https://www.4freerussia.org/ru/vladimir-kara-murza/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907205550/https://www.4freerussia.org/ru/vladimir-kara-murza/ |archive-date=2024-09-07 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Free Russia Foundation |lang=en}}
- Vladimir Milov — Vice President for International Advocacy.
- Grigory Frolov — Vice President for Development.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-05 |title=Free Russia Foundation • Григорий Фролов |url=https://www.4freerussia.org/ru/greg-frolov/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Free Russia Foundation |lang=en}}
- Sergei Aleksashenko — Member of the Board of Directors.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-21 |title=Санкции против России: что мешает усилению их эффекта? |url=https://www.golosameriki.com/a/sanctions-and-the-russian-economy-2023/6927579.html |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Голос Америки |lang=ru}}{{Cite web |title=Сергей Алексашенко |url=https://nemtsovfund.org/o-fonde/rukovodstvo-fonda/sergej-aleksashenko/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526235346/https://nemtsovfund.org/o-fonde/rukovodstvo-fonda/sergej-aleksashenko/ |archive-date=2024-05-26 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Фонд Бориса Немцова |lang=ru}}
Criticism
The Russian authorities and state media accuse the organization of interfering in internal affairs and discrediting Russia.
In 2019, the Russian Ministry of Justice designated the foundation as an undesirable organization. On June 7, 2024, it was added to the list of extremist organizations.{{Cite web |title=Минюст РФ внес фонд «Свободная Россия» в перечень «экстремистских организаций» |url=https://meduza.io/news/2024/07/26/minyust-rf-vnes-fond-svobodnaya-rossiya-v-perechen-ekstremistskih-organizatsiy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906221530/https://meduza.io/news/2024/07/26/minyust-rf-vnes-fond-svobodnaya-rossiya-v-perechen-ekstremistskih-organizatsiy |archive-date=2024-09-06 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Meduza |lang=ru}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Минюст признал фонд «Свободная Россия» экстремистской организацией |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2024/07/26/1052243-minyust-priznal-fond |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001151929/https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2024/07/26/1052243-minyust-priznal-fond |archive-date=2024-10-01 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Ведомости |lang=ru}}
In June 2024, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the designation of the foundation as an undesirable organization violated Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and ordered Russia to pay compensation.{{Cite web |title="Нежелательные" организации в РФ: ЕСПЧ признал нарушения – DW – 18.06.2024 |url=https://www.dw.com/ru/espc-rf-v-delah-o-nezelatelnyh-organizaciah-dopustila-narusenia/a-69404039 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Deutsche Welle |lang=ru}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=Free Russia Foundation • ЕСПЧ: включение Free Russia Foundation в список нежелательных организаций нарушает Европейскую конвенцию по правам человека |url=https://www.4freerussia.org/ru/press-center/espch-vkljuchenie-free-russia-foundation-v-spisok-nezhelatelnyh-organizacij-narushaet-evropejskuju-konvenciju-po-pravam-cheloveka/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108013044/https://www.4freerussia.org/ru/press-center/espch-vkljuchenie-free-russia-foundation-v-spisok-nezhelatelnyh-organizacij-narushaet-evropejskuju-konvenciju-po-pravam-cheloveka/ |archive-date=2024-11-08 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Free Russia Foundation |lang=en}}
= Legion of Elves =
{{main|Elf Farm}}
In 2023, the SVTV publication accused the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) of creating an Elf Farm — a network of commentators allegedly paid to spread anti-Kremlin propaganda on social media. Later, the FBK admitted that they were behind this project.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.4freerussia.org/}}
Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States
Category:Organizations listed in Russia as undesirable