Russia Labels Anti-War Committee a Terrorist Group
Russia's Supreme Court has officially labeled a prominent anti-war committee as a terrorist organization. The move represents a significant escalation in the Kremlin's crackdown on internal dissent and narrative control.
The Anti-War Committee of Russia was founded in February 2022 by a group of prominent exiled Russian public figures following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its founders include former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, and economist Sergei Guriev. The committee's stated mission is to fight against Vladimir Putin's rule, which it describes as a "dictatorship," and to support Russians who oppose the war. One of the committee's key initiatives is the Ark project, which helps coordinate resources and assistance for Russians who have emigrated due to the war. The organization has also been involved in arranging humanitarian aid for Ukrainians, including food, water, and medical supplies, through its Sunrise Project. The "terrorist" designation is the culmination of a series of escalating measures against the group. In January 2024, Russian authorities labeled the committee an "undesirable organization," criminalizing any engagement with it, including sharing its content online. This was followed by the FSB security service announcing terrorism charges against 23 of its members in October 2025. The Supreme Court's decision was reportedly linked to a November 2025 ruling that sentenced exiled politician and committee member Leonid Gozman to 10 years in prison in absentia for "justifying terrorism." Russian authorities have accused the committee of financing paramilitary units fighting for Ukraine and plotting to overthrow the government. This move is part of a broader crackdown on dissent that has intensified since 2022, utilizing vaguely worded laws against extremism and terrorism to silence opposition.
