Moscow Calls 172 Non-Russian Groups ‘Terrorists’ for Seeking Secession and Supporting Ukraine

Paul Goble
    Staunton, Nov. 22 – The Russian Supreme Court has labelled 172 non-Russian organizations within the Russian Federation “terrorist organizations” because of what the judges  say are their secessionist efforts, cooperation in a single body, and support for Ukraine in its defense of what Moscow calls Russia’s “special military operation” there.
    In its decision, the court held that all these groups are in fact “subdivisions” of the Free Nations of PostRussia Forum,  a group Moscow classified as an “undesirable” organization already in March 2023 (epp.genproc.gov.ru/web/gprf/mass-media/news?item=99255941 and epp.genproc.gov.ru/web/gprf/mass-media/news?item=86357057).
    Many who have now been labelled “terrorist organizations” because of their participation in PostRussia forum events deny both that they are subordinate to that organization or that they are terrorists, obviously fearful the court’s decision will open the way to a new wave of repression (themoscowtimes.com/2024/11/22/russia-labels-172-indigenous-groups-as-terrorist-organizations-a87106).
The Putin regime’s lumping together of groups that are not part of any single structure and then using its charge to move against them is now a common feature of Russian jurisprudence as this makes it easier for the authorities to use the courts to attack all such groups (e.g,, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2024/06/putin-likely-to-use-his-latest-fake.html).
    To lend credence the court’s finding, the Moscow media have featured stories about how Ukraine has always sought to promote non-Russian nationalism and secession and is even now taking new and expanded steps to do so (kp.ru/daily/27664.5/5014970/, ria.ru/20241123/ukraina-1985312135.html and politnavigator.net/razvalim-rossiyu-iznutri-ne-razbombljonnaya-rada-sozdala-komissiyu-po-podderzhke-separatizma-v-regionakh-rf.html).
    For what Ukraine has actually done in this regard since the start of Putin’s expanded invasion of that country, see windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2024/08/ukraine-set-to-adopt-comprehensive.html.