Russia Labels Anti-War Group 'Terrorist'

The Anti-War Committee of Russia was established on February 27, 2022, by a group of well-known exiled Russian public figures to oppose the invasion of Ukraine. Founders include former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, retired world chess champion Garry Kasparov, and politician Dmitry Gudkov. The committee's stated mission includes coordinating with anti-war Russians and providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Through its "Sunrise" initiative, the group organizes the delivery of food, medicine, and clothing to people in Ukraine, and its "Ark" project assists Russians who have emigrated due to the war. This "terrorist" designation is the culmination of a series of escalating legal actions. The Russian government first labeled the committee an "undesirable" organization in January 2024, which criminalized engagement with the group. This was followed by the Federal Security Service (FSB) announcing terrorism charges against 23 of its members in October 2025. The Supreme Court's decision was reportedly based on a prior ruling against one of the committee's members, Leonid Gozman, who was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for "justifying terrorism." Russian authorities have accused the committee of financing paramilitary units fighting for Ukraine and plotting to overthrow the government. Under Russian law, involvement with or financing an organization designated as "terrorist" can lead to severe penalties, including up to 12 years in prison. The government has increasingly used anti-terrorism and anti-extremism laws to suppress political dissent, independent media, and civil society organizations. The Anti-War Committee joins a list of over 50 organizations that Russia has designated as terrorist groups. This list includes foreign entities like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, as well as domestic political opposition movements.