The Russian Ministry of Justice recently added the “Feminist Anti-War Resistance” movement to its list of foreign and international non-governmental organizations deemed “undesirable” within the country. This decision was recorded in the register on April 25th under entry number 159, as reported by Meduza.
The Feminist Antiwar Resistance (FAS) is an association established by Russian feminists on the day after the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine. Its main objective is to shed light on grassroots anti-war initiatives and actions, with a focus on overcoming the information blockade and spreading awareness about the war in Ukraine. Activists participating in protests acknowledge the risks involved, but remain committed to their cause.
Following its inclusion in the “undesirable” list, representatives of the Feminist Anti-War Resistance movement 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, albeit with unclear reasons for suspicion as no prior criminal charges had been disclosed. Serenko is currently outside of Russia.