The Open Society Foundation is a charitable organization of the George Soros Foundation. The Foundation provides grants to civil society groups around the world with the stated goal of promoting justice, education, health care, and independent media.

The organization has worked in Russia for almost 30 years and during this time has spent about $1 billion on the development of science, education, civil society, medicine, and culture. The main directions of the fund were one-time assistance to Russian scientists, financing of Internet centers in universities, issuing monthly scholarships to the best professors, associate professors, graduate students, students, and school teachers, publishing textbooks for secondary schools, as well as providing financial assistance to human rights organizations and independent media.

Name
«Open Society Foundation»
Field of activity
NPO’s support
Status
«Undesirable organization»
Reason for recognition
Open Society Foundation has been deemed an "undesirable" organization because according to the Prosecutor General's Office, it poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system of Russia and the security of the state. It is believed that one of the unofficial reasons is the Foundation's support for the "Memorial".
Year of recognition
2015
Status description
Since 2015, this status can be assigned to foreign and international non-governmental organizations that, in the opinion of the Russian government, pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the defense capability of the country, or state security. Since 2021, this registry also includes those who cooperate with «undesirable organizations». Who recognizes: Prosecutor General’s Office in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cooperating organizations are entered into the register by the Prosecutor General’s Office independently. Restrictions: Recognition of an organization as «undesirable» entails a complete ban on its activities in Russia. Russian citizens and Russian legal entities are not allowed to cooperate with it either on or off the territory of Russia. A website that distributes information materials of an «undesirable organization» may be blocked. Formally, there is no administrative or criminal responsibility for this, but law enforcement authorities may interpret it as participation in the activities of an «undesirable organization». Administrative liability: Participation in the activities of an «undesirable organization», a fine of up to 100 thousand rubles (Art. 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Criminal liability: Participation in the activities of an «undesirable organization», if the person has previously been held administratively liable, a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles or imprisonment for up to four years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities. The organization of such activities faces imprisonment for up to six years. (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code) Providing funds or raising funds for an «undesirable organization» can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.