Russia Bans Clooney Foundation

Human rights group declared 'undesirable'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 21, 2024 2:25 PM CDT
Russia Bans Clooney Foundation
George Clooney and Amal Clooney appear at the premiere of the film "Suburbicon" during the 74th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy on Sept. 2, 2017.   (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)

George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, could face arrest if they set foot in Russia under the current regime. The Clooney Foundation for Justice, founded by the couple in 2016, has been declared "undesirable" and banned from operating in Russia, Politico reports. The foundation investigates human rights abuses in countries including Ukraine. "We have documented indiscriminate attacks that killed civilians, destroyed civilian objects, as well as executions, enforced disappearances, torture, sexual violence, looting, and other crimes committed by Russian forces," it says on its website.

In a statement sarcastically titled "The Russian Prosecutor General's Office Appreciates Hollywood Activists' Acting Talent," the office claimed the foundation "conducts extensive work aimed at discrediting Russia" and "actively supports false patriots and members of banned terrorist and extremist groups." Organizations that have been branded "undesirable" must shut down their Russian operations, AFP reports; Russians who work for or with such organizations could be arrested. (More George Clooney stories.)

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