Greenpeace Halts Activities in Russia

The Russian branch of the environmental organization Greenpeace announced today, Friday, that it is halting its activities in the country after being declared an "undesirable organization" by Russian authorities, which effectively prohibits it from operating. The Russian Attorney General stated in a statement that Greenpeace attempted to "interfere in the internal affairs of the state" and "participated in anti-Russia propaganda" by calling for sanctions against Moscow. The branch's statement noted, "This decision makes any continuation of Greenpeace's activities in Russia illegal. Therefore, the Russian branch of Greenpeace is forced to close its doors." The branch's CEO, Sergey Tsiplenkov, stated that he would seek legal advice before deciding whether to appeal the judgment. In an interview with Reuters, he added, "I hope that environmental work will remain allowed in our country. I hope the state will not harass our employees, including myself."