Statement on the classification of ZOiS as an “undesirable foreign organisation” in the Russian Federation

On 13 October 2023, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation declared the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) an “undesirable foreign organisation”. As a consequence of this declaration, Russian citizens who collaborate with ZOiS will be committing a criminal offence. This also applies to collaboration outside Russia. Any form of cooperation, whether on events, research projects or publications, may result in the imposition of financial penalties, with imprisonment for repeat offences. The distribution of ZOiS publications in Russia is now prohibited as well.

This is one of many steps taken by Russia in its long-standing campaign to isolate Russian civil society, exert control over academic partnerships and criminalise expressions of criticism. In recent years, we have witnessed the massive curtailment of press freedom, the banning of critical media and the persecution of political opponents in Russia. Independent academic research on Russia is now to be restricted in other countries as well.

In 2018 and 2021, several German civil society organisations were listed as “undesirable”, forcing them to suspend significant aspects of their vital work. ZOiS is the first German academic institution to be given this status.

“This measure is not just an attempt to intimidate and silence academics of Russian nationality who remain committed to democratic values, international law and good research practice. It also constitutes interference in academic freedom, for its aim is to impose constraints on academic research and the sharing of research findings outside Russia as well,” says Gwendolyn Sasse, Director of ZOiS.

"ZOiS takes its institutional responsibility towards academics who are Russian citizens and have connections to ZOiS very seriously and we will do our utmost to protect them,” ZOiS’s Managing Director Christian Schaich confirms.

ZOiS’s listing as “undesirable” further demonstrates the importance of researching and sharing information about Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russia’s history policy and the Russian diaspora and thus strengthens our resolve to continue our work.

On 13 October 2023, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation declared the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) an “undesirable foreign organisation”. As a consequence of this declaration, Russian citizens who collaborate with ZOiS will be committing a criminal offence. This also applies to collaboration outside Russia. Any form of cooperation, whether on events, research projects or publications, may result in the imposition of financial penalties, with imprisonment for repeat offences. The distribution of ZOiS publications in Russia is now prohibited as well.

This is one of many steps taken by Russia in its long-standing campaign to isolate Russian civil society, exert control over academic partnerships and criminalise expressions of criticism. In recent years, we have witnessed the massive curtailment of press freedom, the banning of critical media and the persecution of political opponents in Russia. Independent academic research on Russia is now to be restricted in other countries as well.

In 2018 and 2021, several German civil society organisations were listed as “undesirable”, forcing them to suspend significant aspects of their vital work. ZOiS is the first German academic institution to be given this status.

“This measure is not just an attempt to intimidate and silence academics of Russian nationality who remain committed to democratic values, international law and good research practice. It also constitutes interference in academic freedom, for its aim is to impose constraints on academic research and the sharing of research findings outside Russia as well,” says Gwendolyn Sasse, Director of ZOiS.

"ZOiS takes its institutional responsibility towards academics who are Russian citizens and have connections to ZOiS very seriously and we will do our utmost to protect them,” ZOiS’s Managing Director Christian Schaich confirms.

ZOiS’s listing as “undesirable” further demonstrates the importance of researching and sharing information about Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russia’s history policy and the Russian diaspora and thus strengthens our resolve to continue our work.