Norwegian Helsinki Committee listed as 'undesirable' on request of bestial murderer
The Justice Ministry in Moscow on Friday added the Oslo-based human rights frontrunner to the list of foreign organisations designated as undesirable in Russia.
The incrimination of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee's activities was formalized by State Duma deputy Andrei Lugovoi, the former security agent that took part in the poisoning and killing of Aleksandr Litvinenko in London in 2006.
Andrei Lugovoi has, like Vladimir Putin, his background from the KGB, later FSB.
He is today wanted by the British police for his involvement in the brutal murder of FSB defector Litvinenko.
Lugovoi had visited London at least three times in the month before Litvinenko's death and met with him four times, including the day he fell ill after drinking tea that contained the lethal radioactive isotope Polonium-210.
Traces of polonium-210 were discovered in all three hotels where Lugovoi stayed after flying to London to liquidate Litvinenko.
"Poisonous instrument"
In his Telegram channel, the parliamentarian claims the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) works as an "poisonous instrument" of the West. He then lists what he claims is false accusations about war crimes against civilians in Chechnya, fake claims about Russian soldiers conducting executions, torture, violence in Ukraine, as well as disinformation about detentions and torture of people with non-traditional sexual orientation.
"The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has lived too long at the expense of our country. Now the source of lies and foreign influence is blocked. 'Undesirable' is an understatement for them. The retribution for decades of disinformation and interference will be complete," Andrei Lugovoi wrote.
Lugovoi published a copy of the June 27 letter from the Procurator General's office about the decision in the Telegram channel.
On Friday July 11, the Ministry of Justice officially announced that the Norwegian group was added to the list.
The Justice Ministry argues that the Helsinki Committee has helped human rights activists in Russia as well as documented brutal Russian abuses in Ukraine.
Criminal prosecution
There are now more than 900 so-called 'undesirable' organizations banned in Russia. Anyone that speaks with an ‘undesirable’ organization, shares information or reposts contents risks criminal persecution.
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee is the fourth organization from Norway on the list. The three others are the Bellona foundation, the Human Rights House foundation and the Independent Barents Observer.
Several of the independent Russian media that now operate in exile have been added to the list of ‘undesirables’, among them Meduza, Novaya Gazeta Europa, TV Dozhd and The Moscow Times.
