The Russian Ministry of Justice has included ILGA World, the international federation that brings together more than 2,000 LGBTQ+ rights organizations worldwide, in the list of “undesirable organizations”, a measure that implies the prohibition of its operations within Russian territory and opens the door to criminal sanctions for those who work or collaborate with it, according to official sources and the organization itself.
The decision was announced by the Ministry of Justice on January 21, 2026 and is based on a law that allows foreign entities whose activities are considered contrary to Russia’s internal norms or security to be declared “undesirable.” This designation entails the prohibition of operations, cooperation with the entity, and exposes individuals or legal entities that maintain ties with it to serious legal consequences, including criminal proceedings.
Legal consequences and penalties
Under current Russian legislation, organizations declared undesirable cannot carry out activities within the country, and those who maintain professional relationships or any collaboration with them face sanctions that may include prison sentences. In the case of ILGA World, human rights sources indicate that the measure could constitute another step in the Russian government’s strategy to repress civil society and isolate human rights defenders, although the official statement does not use that language.
The ILGA World organization—which represents LGBTQ+ associations from more than 170 countries and territories—has denounced that the decision is part of a broader pattern of harassment against activists and human rights groups in Russia, which in recent years has adopted various restrictive norms against LGBTQ+ expressions and organizations.
A context of hostile legislation
The measure comes in the framework of a legal context in Russia that has been described by human rights defenders as deeply restrictive regarding the fundamental freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community. Since 2013, the dissemination of positive information about same-sex relationships has been prohibited, and in 2023 the Russian Supreme Court declared the international LGBTQ movement an “extremist organization,” with possible criminal consequences for those who participate in related activities.
Independent organizations, such as ILGA-Europe, have warned that this designation may expose activists, collaborators, and human rights defenders to risks of surveillance, detention, and legal persecution, hindering the work of civil society in a country where legal frameworks already severely penalize any public expression in defense of LGBTQ+ rights.
Reaction from the LGBTQ+ federation
Julia Ehrt, executive director of ILGA World, described the measure as part of “another episode in the authoritarian repertoire” of the Russian government, arguing that the “undesirable” label does not punish an organization per se, but is inserted into a broader pattern of restrictions aimed at silencing critical voices and marginalizing social minorities.
The designation of ILGA World as an undesirable organization in Russia adds to similar decisions against other NGOs and human rights groups, which for external observers represents a hardening of Russian policies against international civil society actors.