Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) classified as an "undesirable organisation" by Russia
On 13 October 2023, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office placed the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) in Berlin on the list of undesirable organisations in Russia. According to Russian legislation, ZOiS is therefore prohibited from distributing informational materials in Russia. Even a link to the ZOiS website could fall under this prohibition. On the other hand, Russian citizens are prohibited from participating in the activities of such organisations – even if this happens outside of Russia.
“This classification as an undesirable organisation puts ZOiS's collaboration with scientists who are Russian citizens or who have family ties to Russia at risk. We condemn this attack on academic freedom,” says Julia von Blumenthal, President of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. “ZOiS is an important academic partner of the Humboldt-Universität and stands for independent social science research into Eastern Europe. We stand behind ZOiS and its employees, who will do everything in their power to not allow themselves to be influenced in their research and academic freedom.”