Russia labels Clooney Foundation an 'undesirable' organization
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Russia has accused the Clooney Foundation of discrediting the country and supporting individuals involved in terrorist organizations.
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George Clooney, right, and Amal Clooney attend The Albies hosted by the Clooney Foundation for Justice at the New York Public Library on Thursday, September 28, 2023, in New York. (AP)
The Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) has been labeled as an "undesirable" organization in Russia, the country's Prosecutor General’s Office announced, banning its operations and classifying it as a security threat.
The term "undesirable" is a legal designation for foreign organizations considered a threat to Russia's constitutional order, defense, or security. Such organizations are prohibited from hosting public events or distributing promotional materials in Russia and face significant fines or criminal charges if they violate these restrictions.
On Monday, the Prosecutor General's Office accused the CFJ, founded by Hollywood star George Clooney and his wife Amal, of trying to "discredit Russia in a Hollywood fashion," as well as supporting "psuedo-patriots" who fled Russia and individuals embroiled in terrorist and extremist organizations.
"Under the guise of humanitarian ideas, the ‘fighters for justice’ from Madison Avenue support the campaign to prosecute Russia’s top leadership, and publicly disseminate negative pseudo-expert assessments of Russian legislation on foreign agents and NGOs," officials said.
The CFJ has consistently denounced Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and advocated for prosecuting alleged war crimes, which Russia denies.
Peskov calls Clooney Foundation 'madmen'
In May, the Clooney Foundation stated that it intends to arrest "Russian propagandists," specifically journalists reporting the Ukraine crisis.
Anna Neistat, the legal director of the foundation's The Docket project, explained that her team is urging the EU and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute the journalists for "incitement to genocide" in Ukraine.
The identities of those being targeted was not provided, as she cited "We want them to travel to other countries and be arrested there."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the CFJ's attempt to punish Russian media workers, saying "I suggest that Russian reporters ask those madmen how they justify this."
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, requested UNESCO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to respond and examine what she described as "a judicial safari targeting Russian journalists."
In response to the criticism, Clooney downplayed the issue, suggesting a mistake was made by a foundation member. He emphasized that the Clooney Foundation would never target journalists, regardless of any disagreements.
