The Russian government has recently designated the “Feminist Anti-War Resistance” (FAS) movement as an undesirable non-governmental organization. This decision was recorded in the Ministry of Justice’s register on April 25th, according to reports from Meduza.
Established by Russian feminists following the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, FAS is an association that aims to shed light on grassroots anti-war initiatives and actions. Its main objective is to overcome the information blockade and spread awareness about the war in Ukraine. Despite the risks involved, activists participating in protests have continued to fight for their cause.
In response to its inclusion on the undesirable list, representatives of FAS have sought legal counsel. Previously, in December 2022, the Ministry of Justice designated the organization as a foreign agent, with one of its founders, Daria Serenko, also being identified as such in January 2023. Notably, Serenko was later placed on the wanted list by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, although no clear reasons for suspicion were disclosed as no prior criminal charges had been filed against her. Serenko is currently outside of Russia.