Russia declares an opposition forum founded by Kasparov that is held twice a year in Lithuania "undesirable"

MADRID, 1 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Russian authorities have declared this Wednesday "undesirable" the activities of the Free Russia Forum, a conference of Russian political opponents founded by the former chess player Garri Kasparov and which is held twice a year in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, considering that their activities "pose a threat to the constitutional order and security" of the country.

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has indicated in a statement published on its website that the decision has been adopted "based on the results of the study of the materials received" and has indicated that the activities of the forum "are undesirable in the territory of the Federation Russian".

"Information about the decision has been sent to the Russian Ministry of Justice for inclusion in the list of foreign and international non-governmental organizations whose activities are recognized as undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation and its subsequent publication," he added.

The forum was founded in March 2016 by Kasparov and Ivan Tiutrin, former executive director of the Solidarnost democracy movement. Thus, it indicates on its website that "it is an independent platform of the Russian opposition to discuss issues of Russian and international politics, as well as to find solutions to get Russia out of its political, economic and civilizational crisis."

"The central focus of the forum is the formation of an intellectual alternative to the regime of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that creates a framework for building a new Europe-oriented Russia." Eleven forums have been held since March 2016, while three conferences held in Vilnius since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine have been organized under the auspices of the Free Russia Forum.

Russia included Kasparov in its list of foreign agents in March 2022 along with the oligarch and director of the Yukos oil company, Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Moscow attributes both "political activities" against Russia and having received funds from organizations in Ukraine or the United States.