Russia labels Mission Eurasia an undesirable organization

The Russian General Prosecutor’s Office has officially designated the U.S.-based Mission Eurasia as an “undesirable organization,” citing threats to national security. Under Russian law, this classification prohibits citizens and entities from cooperating with the ministry, with violations carrying risks of administrative fines or criminal prosecution. Mission Eurasia President Sergey Rakhuba stated that the organization received no prior warning or explanation for the designation, emphasizing that the ministry has focused on leadership training and humanitarian aid for 35 years without engaging in political activity.

The ruling has already impacted local Christian institutions. Pyotr Mitskevich, president of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, was fined 20,000 rubles after authorities discovered Mission Eurasia publications in the Moscow Theological Seminary library. In a separate incident, a Moscow Region court ordered the destruction of over 250 copies of the New Testament and Gospel of John booklets found in a local Baptist church. These actions follow a broader trend of increased scrutiny toward foreign-linked religious organizations within Russia.