
“We are deeply concerned about the decision of the Russian government to include the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the Media Investment Fund (MDIF) in the list of so-called undesirable organizations”,
said Kirby.“We once again call on the government of the Russian Federation to comply with its international obligations to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to lift such restrictions on the important work of civil society organizations in Russia,” he added.
Earlier, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation stated that the activities of IRI, headed by Senator McCain, and the MDIF "pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system of Russia and the security of the state."