Expert in Russia accused of collaborating with 'undesirable organization'
An administrative case has been opened against Olga Sibireva, an employee of the Sova research center in Russia, for collaborating with an "undesirable organization." According to the center, this was due to the fact that an international organization established at the initiative of the US State Department included references in its materials to Sibireva's open reports on freedom of conscience in Russia.
In Russia, an administrative case has been opened against expert Olga Sibireva for collaborating with an "unacceptable organization" because another project used her materials. The Sova research center reported this on August 17.
According to the Sova center, in early August, police searched Sibireva's home and seized her equipment and books. During the search, operatives mentioned the issue of collaboration with an "unacceptable organization," but did not specify which organization it was.
On August 17, Sibireva went to the Naro-Fominsk city prosecutor's office with a summons, where she learned the details of the charges against her from the decision to initiate the case. She is accused of collaborating with the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance. This organization was declared "unacceptable" in Russia in 2024.
The date for the administrative protocol to be considered in court has not yet been set.
The Sova Center claims that the reason for the opening of the case was the use of Sibireva's 2024 and 2025 annual reports on freedom of conscience in Russia in the materials of the international alliance. These reports are publicly published on the Sova Center's website and can be freely used. The Center itself stated that it has never collaborated with this international alliance.
According to Sova, this is the first known case in Russia when an individual was accused of "collaborating" with an "undesirable organization" for providing links to its publicly published texts.
The International Alliance for Freedom of Religion or Belief was established in 2020 at the initiative of the US State Department. It is an international network uniting representatives from different countries, and representatives of 38 countries have joined it. The organization cites the protection of the rights of religious minorities and the fight against discrimination and persecution based on religious beliefs as one of its goals.
The Russian Prosecutor General's Office considers the alliance to be a structure serving the interests of the United States and its allies. According to Russian officials, the organization's members are in favor of increasing sanctions pressure on Moscow. The alliance has reported on the persecution of religious organizations and believers in Russia. In particular, the alliance has documented cases of persecution in Russia, as well as cases of pressure on clergy and believers who are not loyal to the Kremlin and the Moscow Patriarchate in the territories of Ukraine controlled by the Russian army.