Moscow Declares Committee of Ingush Independence ‘Undesirable Organization’

Paul Goble

            Staunton, May 2 – The Russian justice ministry has declared the Committee of Ingush Independence “an undesirable organization,” an action that reflects Moscow’s concerns about the radicalization of opinion in that North Caucasus republic and one that likely presages a new wave of repression there.

            The decision, posted on the ministry’s website (minjust.gov.ru/ru/documents/7756/), comes one month after the procuracy called for that move and four months are the justice ministry had included the Committee on its rapidly growing list of “foreign agents” (t.me/fortangaorg/17151).

            Under Russian law, groups classified as “undesirable” are not permitted to work in Russia and any participation in their activities – including reposts of such groups’ statement -- by residents of the Russian Federation is subject to administrative and even criminal penalties (mmdc.ru/blog/2022/07/21/chto-takoe-nezhelatelnye-organizaczii-i-pochemu-nelzya-rasprostranyat-ih-materialy/ and fortanga.org/2024/05/komitet-ingushskoj-nezavisimosti-priznan-nezhelatelnoj-organizacziej/).

            For background on the Committee which is unique in that it does not seek to promote Ingush independence but rather wants to be prepared should independence happen, see windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2023/03/creation-of-ingushetia-independence.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2023/09/committee-for-ingushetia-independence.html and windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2024/02/ingushetia-independence-movement.html.