NED targeted by the Kremlin for its work advancing freedom
Washington, D.C., July 29 – Today, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) marks the ten-year anniversary of a remarkable designation: in July 2015, the Kremlin declared NED an “undesirable organization” under a newly passed Russian law aimed at silencing international support for Russian civic groups.
NED was the first organization to receive this designation—a label intended to criminalize ties between Russian citizens and their democratic allies abroad.
Under Russia’s “Undesirable Organizations” law, foreign institutions deemed to pose a “threat” to Russia’s national security or constitutional order can be banned from operating in the country. Russian individuals or organizations who associate with them risk legal penalties, including jail. This designation was a clear attempt to criminalize solidarity and isolate Russian democracy activists from international support.
But it didn’t work.
In the decade since, Russian civil groups have endured an unrelenting assault—from foreign agent laws to mass arrests and exile. Yet activists remain committed, innovative, and defiant. And NED, along with other international partners, has never wavered in its support for Russians who seek freedom.
To recognize this milestone, NED brought together members of the democracy community—longtime Russian partners, allies in exile, and supporters in Washington—for an evening of reflection and renewed commitment.
Stephen E. Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and member of NED’s Board of Directors, reflected:
“This designation tells us more about what the Kremlin has become than about the Russian people. Anyone who claims democracy is a foreign imposition hasn’t seen the Russia that still exists in its civil society—resilient, values-driven, and rooted in dignity. As Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ And none of you are doing nothing. NED is proud to help ensure your voices are heard.”
Damon Wilson, President and CEO of NED, noted:
“The Kremlin first tried a sanctions list. Then a foreign agents law. And when that didn’t work, they passed the ‘undesirable’ law. They keep failing to sever the ties between Russian civil society and the world. The team at NED knew it was only a matter of time before they targeted us, and we prepared. We found ways to match the courage of our Russian partners and ensure they still had support. Even as repression intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we worked to respond to the needs of those Russians protesting the war despite great risks. I couldn’t be prouder to be a Kremlin ‘undesirable.’”
Natalia Arno, President of the Free Russia Foundation and longtime NED partner, spoke about the stakes today:
“Russia is not a democracy. It’s a dictatorship and a war machine. It imprisons the innocent and murders its opponents. And yet, despite it all, Russian civil society hasn’t surrendered. We may be scattered, but we’re not broken. We may be in exile, but we’re not voiceless. Solidarity is the greatest weapon against dictators—and NED has always demonstrated it unwaveringly.”
She continued: “It’s no coincidence that NED was the first to be labeled undesirable. Dictators know who their real enemies are: those who fight for ideas, for rights, for values.”
NED remains more than a symbolic target—it is a lifeline. The Endowment continues to make hundreds of grants supporting Russian civic groups, independent media, human rights defenders, political prisoners, legal aid efforts, labor rights organizations, civic education, anti-war activists, youth leadership, and alternative online information platforms.
This work supports efforts such as independent investigative journalism, monitoring political prisoners, promoting the rule of law, building legal defense capacity, fostering youth civic engagement, and teaching digital and physical security best practices to at-risk activists. We also back Russians working to hold the Kremlin accountable for its invasion of Ukraine, kidnapping of Ukrainian youth, gross violation of human rights, and crimes against humanity. Despite being officially “undesirable,” NED continues to respond to demand from Russians who seek support to keep democratic values alive and work toward a better, freer future.
NED’s commitment to democracy-seeking Russians remains unwavering. As new challenges arise—from transnational repression to shrinking civic space worldwide—the lessons of the past decade will continue to guide the Endowment’s work: where others build walls, NED builds bridges.
Media Inquiries: press@ned.org
