OREANDA-NEWS. The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation included the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF), founded by popular opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in the list of organizations acting as foreign agents. The reason is the fact that non-profit organization acts in the sphere of politics and received foreign funding.

“There were stated a political activity, as well as the receipt of funds from foreign sources: from foreign organizations in Spain and the United States,” the representative of the ministry said to journalists.

Vladimir Titov, the head of the Department on Non-profit Organization of the Ministry of Justice, specified that the foundation tried to influence state authorities and organized rallies for foreign funding.

Earlier, the ministry said that during an audit conducted by the Department of the Ministry of Justice for Moscow, it was established that the ACF met the characteristics of an organization that acts as a foreign agent.

ACF Director Ivan Zhdanov said that the organization is funded only by Russian citizens and has never received money from abroad, noting that all the activities of the foundation are transparent, and the reports on it are regularly submitted to the Ministry of Justice.

The Investigative Committee of Russia is conducting an inquiry on criminal money laundering against the ACF. According to investigators, in 2016–2018, persons close to the foundation and its employees legalized about 1 billion roubles obtained through criminal activity. The representatives of the ACF deny it.

According to the current Russian legislation, non-profit organizations that engage in political activities and receive foreign funding must register in the Ministry of Justice. The agency can force such organizations to be included in the list of foreign agents. The decision can be appealed in court.